Our Story

2013

In April, Jane Storella and Joan Lund formed the very first version of the Bethlehem Community Dinner, starting as a Soup Supper, prepared and served in the Durrell UMC Church Fellowship Hall. Located at 2057 Main Street in Bethlehem NH, the soup suppers began with a desire to gather the community for a weekly meal as well as keeping the Durrell Church active and engaged with the public.

The original idea was to offer a free weekly meal of three different soups to whoever came, in a safe, comfortable and welcoming place to be shared with family, friends and neighbors. The core belief of these meals is that judgement and prejudice begin to break down the moment we break bread together.  

The first Soup Supper menu was Potato Leek, Spit Pea and Ham and Chicken Noodle. The cost was covered by Storella and Lund. A donation can was put out to cover the cost of upcoming dinners. 

The Soup Supper continued each week for over a year serving an average of 30 meals each week. The effort quickly caught on as others came not only to share a meal, but to volunteer their time with serving, cleaning up and bringing extra dishes. The Soup Suppers soon evolved into a community potluck. 

2014
There was a short break in the fall until incoming Pastor Aaron Cox wanted to bring it back. Jane Storella was no longer available to do the cooking, but volunteer Jerry Archibald and wife Dee stepped up and revamped the menu to a full meal including a protein, vegetable, starch and dessert. The volunteer crew returned as the sit-down meal grew to an average of 45 meals per week. About this time the name morphed into Bethlehem Community Dinner.

Over the years community financial support kept the dinners going. Support came in from weekly dinner donations, friends, neighbors and local businesses. Several Bethlehem and Littleton restaurants stepped in over the years to donate food, paper goods, cleaning supplies or to provide the entire meal.

Jerry, Dee and crew managed the Thursday night meals for seven years, including an annual le Dia de los Muertos and full Thanksgiving dinners.

2020

With the onset of COVID, the meals became pick-up and delivery only. During the winter months, pre-ordered meals would be prepared in the Durrell kitchen with sidewalk pick-up in front of the Colonial Theater along with volunteer delivery.  During the summer months, meal pick-up was moved to the road alongside the church yard.

2021
To-go meals could now be picked up inside the church hall.

When Archibald was no longer available to lead the weekly meal, volunteers Nancy Strand and Kay Allen stepped into the role of head cooks. Nancy soon took responsibility as person in charge and has led the BCD volunteer crew to present day.

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2022

In Fall, indoor dining started once again.

2024
As a result of an overwhelming fundraiser by Rek-Lis Brewing Co. in February, that yielded $11,250, Nancy Strand and Jane Storella decided to apply for a 501c non-profit status. A Board of Directors was formed and regular meetings were held. At the same time Mike and Alyssa Shoenfeld of Brown Paper Packages donated three commercial sinks and two tables and the Durrell kitchen underwent a major renovation.

2025

In March BCD became a member in good standing with the State of NH, and in May Bethlehem Community Dinner received their 501c3 official status.

That October, the Town of Bethlehem approached the BCD Board with a request to become the Bethlehem Food Pantry fiscal agent. The board also learned the Pantry Coordinator would be leaving and the board quickly decided to take over ownership and operation of the Food Pantry. Jane Storella stepped down as president of the board and came back on as Executive Director and Food Pantry Coordinator. Nancy Strand assumed the position of board President.

What began as a weekly “soup supper” has now grown into a weekly community meal that averages over 100 meals served per week. The BCD Crew has grown to over 15 regular volunteers. The dinners welcome all, and in fact serve many from surrounding communities along with Bethlehem residents. The Bethlehem Food Pantry has also greatly expanded its reach into our community and beyond.

The BCD Board has worked hard to upgrade the organization’s accounting and budgeting processes and has visions of even more potential contributions to our community in the future.

2026

We continue our original mission to bring our community together, breaking bread “one meal at a time”!

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This work is only possible because of the generosity of our community. When you give, you help ensure that warm meals, food access, and compassionate support remain available to those who need them most.