WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Listen is reopening its Community Dinner Hall in White River Junction for in-person meals beginning Tuesday.
Free meals will be available from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, at the dining hall located at 42 Maple St. It will be the first time people will be allowed to eat there since March 2020, when the Lebanon-based nonprofit organization switched to grab-and-go meals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They will continue to offer that option to people for the time being, said Larry Lowndes, community meals manager.
“We don’t want people to feel uncomfortable,” Lowndes said. “If they’re not ready to come sit down and eat we shouldn’t force them.”
Inside the newly renovated dining hall, there will be space for around 70 people. Tables will be spaced six feet apart and no more than six people may sit at each table. There will also be outdoor seating available for 24 patrons. Prior to the pandemic, sit-down meals were available from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Staff extended that to an hour to encourage people to space out in the dining hall and lessen the traffic in the parking lot. To-go meals will be available at the start.
“Not everyone has to come right at the beginning,” Lowndes said. “That should, hopefully, allow a little bit of turnover so if we do get 100 people showing up they should be able to sit down if they choose to.”
During the pandemic, Listen averaged about 1,000 to-go meals per week, Lowndes said. Prior to the pandemic, volunteers would serve up between 80 to 100 meals per day.
“We’re going to plan for 80 for at least the first few weeks and then adjust it as necessary,” he said.
Patrons will be required to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status, unless they are seated at a table.
In addition to changing hours, Listen is also changing its community dinner volunteer program to make it more accessible for individuals to participate. Previously, people primarily signed up as a group, forming teams of four to eight.
“Some teams come every month, others would come every other month,” Lowndes said.
Individuals who want to volunteer can visit listen.volunteerhub.com to view open slots in the future. They can also stop by any day to see if there are positions open for that night’s dinner service and add their name to an open slot. Or, they can contact Lowndes at Larry@ListenCS.org or call 802-698-8764, ext. 3005, to inquire about any help needed that evening.
“We love our cook teams and are very grateful for everything they’ve done in the past and everything they’ll do in the future,” Lowndes said. “It’s also going to be a fun place where individuals get a chance to participate.”
He also created a new volunteer position: A greeter who will speak to people as they arrive at the dining hall.
“The greeter will be able to acclimate the people who were used to the way things were before, but more importantly, the new people and families,” Lowndes said. “That’s nice I think for them to know if they’re coming in, what we’re all about.”
If volunteers are not vaccinated they will be asked to wear masks at all times. Volunteers will not be asked to enforce the mask policy among patrons.
“I’m not going to make volunteers be the police of that,” Lowndes said, adding that that responsibility will fall to staff members.
People must be 17 and older to volunteer. Those who are younger may volunteer if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also volunteering.
“We’re really looking forward to it, both the volunteers and the guests,” Lowndes said.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
