According to members of Ranck's United Methodist Church, 700 Ranck Road, New Holland, there is such a thing as a free lunch. "To be able to serve a need in an unbiased, nonjudgmental way ... that's the purpose," said Kris Pursel, pastor at Ranck's, "That's the message behind 'Love and Care Is Found Here,'" he said, referring to the tagline on the yard signs the church has put out to advertise the new free lunch program.

"Free Drive Thru Lunch" reads the yard sign outside the church. The free lunches will be handed out on the second Saturday of every month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or until the lunches are gone. The church has a drive-through portico on the north side, where the lunches are easily distributed to recipients in cars. Each person in the vehicle may receive a lunch. The next free lunch event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11.

The effort is led by Dee Kopicz and Anne Folker with help from Lisa Kurtz and a few other volunteers who meet on the Friday before a lunch distribution to make lunches for at least 50 recipients. Kopicz reported that the November lunch preparation involved five volunteers making sandwiches for 30 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of packing bags with the sandwiches; fruit; a snack, such as chips or pretzels; a bottle of water; and a dessert. The November distribution included Halloween candy, and the December lunch bags contained Christmas candy.

According to Kopicz, Ranck's members tend to be mission minded, supporting local organizations such as CrossNet Ministries and Align Pregnancy Services and sending Christmas cards to veterans in hospice. Kurtz explained that the congregation takes part in the Arc Angel project that provides gifts for people with disabilities in Lebanon and Lancaster counties. So, when Kopicz, who works part time for Ebenezer Church in Brownstown, saw that church distributing lunches from their facility, she brought the idea to Pursel.

"I thought, 'Why can't we do it here?'" recalled Kopicz. The brainchild led to a series of discussions between congregant and pastor. "Pastor Kris asked me, 'Where are we going with this?' and 'What are we trying to accomplish?'" said Kopicz, who prepared a presentation for church members before the program kicked off in November. "We aren't on Main Street in New Holland," she said, adding that homeless members of the community are more likely to be on Main Street than out on Ranck Road. But Kopicz described a scenario including people who could benefit from the effort. "This (lunch program) is about single moms and dads who work," she said. "Maybe they have a couple children, and they are barely making it, but they make a little too much to qualify for aid." Kopicz noted that people in this situation are often exhausted and living from paycheck to paycheck. "And then sometimes life happens," she noted, listing issues such as a car breaking down or an increase in rent or child care. "They just need a break, and 'Wow! It's a free lunch!'"

Pursel said that Kopicz's answer challenged his paradigms. "I had this idea of going to where the need is as compared to the need coming to you," he said, adding that Kopicz felt strongly that need is everywhere. "It's not limited to Main Street or the big city," he said.

Although a contact card goes into each lunch bag, Kopicz noted that lunch program participants may be more comfortable at a drive-through. "People might not feel quite as intimidated when they don't have to come in and sit down and eat," she said.

Finding recipients for leftover lunches was important to organizing the effort. In November, 35 of 50 lunches were given out. Kopicz found that City Gate and Good Samaritan Services in Ephrata would accept the lunches and find recipients who needed them.

Kopicz recalled that at the first distribution people commented on how nice the program was and thanked the church members for making the effort. "One woman said that her dad was there (to receive a lunch), and he called her, so she came with her son," recalled Kurtz. Kopicz noted that a number of senior citizens received lunches as well.

Pursel said because the church is promoting the program, it is hoped that the number of meals distributed will increase. "Initially, we didn't want to bite off more than we could chew," he explained. "Once we had a backup plan for extra meals, it went from having a risk to having no risk." Knowing that no food would be wasted was important to organizers. "These meals will find value to the people they are reaching, and they will all find a home," he said.

More information about the church is available by searching for "Ranck's United Methodist Church" on Facebook or calling 717-354-8022.