Area hunters are not only reaping a bounty of deer this season, but are also stopping by St. Peters Lutheran Church on New Philadelphias Oldtown Valley Road to enjoy bountiful lunches for their midday meal. The ladies of the church, under the leadership of Marcy Stein, are joining efforts for the third year running to provide a delicious, hot lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday for hunters and anyone else looking for a great meal that supports good causes in the community.
Brothers Chuck, Art, Jim, and John Scott had been out before dawn on the first day of deer season Monday, Nov. 28, in a tradition that has been continued since they were young men.
They were always hunters, and so was their dad, commented their mother, Maxine Scott, as she sat at a table with her sons and daughter-in-law, Sue, and enjoyed a lunch of potato or vegetable soup and cream chicken, sloppy joe, and coney sandwiches accompanied by homemade desserts and hot coffee. Its nice to spend time here together every day.
I got a 10 point at 9:45 a.m. I hadnt seen this one during bow season. It was a nice deer, commented Chuck Scott. I saw nine deer out there this morning, and two of them were bucks.
His brother, Jim, also brought down a buck, which he planned on making into burgers, steak, and Trail bologna.
We come over here to the church every year to eat. Its quick and handy, and good food, added Jim.
We also come to help support what they are doing for the community, commented Chuck. We dont care what the menu is, because its always good.
We started this to raise money for the church mission fund, said volunteer Sherry Heter as she helped serve soup to guests. Actually, we all had to feed the men at home who were out hunting everyday anyhow. Some days I had more than 20 for lunch on any given day.
Marcy Stein noted that her kitchen was always full during deer season, too, as she served at least a half dozen hunters for lunch six days in a row. When the ladies decided to all come together on the project, they found donations at the ready from other church members and Oldtown Valley neighbors. A basket at the door quickly fills up each day with money donations from grateful diners.
All of the money goes to missions, like Operation Christmas Child, the local food bank, Share-a-Christmas, the homeless shelter, and Dress a Child, said Stein. We usually make between $800 and $1,000 during the week, and we dont keep any of it. It all goes back into the community.
This is my first time here, commented hunter Corey Colaner of Dover, who came in out of the rain with his older brother, Chase, for a hot meal after bagging an 8 point buck earlier. Someone told us about this, so we came to check it out. This is a really nice thing for them to do. Its just like mamas home cooking! Ill be back every day.
The hunters luncheon will continue through Saturday, Dec. 3, and will also be open on Dec. 17 and Monday through Saturday during muzzleloader season. The lunch menu changes daily.
