To the Editor:
If I were a folk singer I would compose a song titled “Where have all the church suppers gone?”

Prior to COVID-19, one of the marks of the arrival of spring and fall would be the church and grange suppers that took place on weekends. Seated at family-style tables, attendees would be presented with plates of steaming turkey, roast beef, ham — maybe chicken and biscuits — accompanied by all the “fixin’s” and an astonishing selection of desserts. Second helpings were expected.

But equally attractive as the food was the atmosphere: strangers sharing a table and a meal in an old-fashioned celebration of our common heritage.

No more.

Since COVID, those churches and granges still continuing to have suppers as fundraisers have for the most part resorted to “take-out only”: Patrons join a line of cars to eventually be handed a plastic bag of styrofoam containers whose contents tend to slop over on one another making a mess when they are opened.

No seconds obviously, no choice of desserts — and far worse, no sitting down with locals and sharing introductions and conversation.

All of this at a price that is easily matched by a meal in a local diner where there is at least some choice and sense of community.

This is a sad end to a local tradition that saw many churches and granges offering community and the shared cooking skills of the chefs.

COVID is over, folks — can't we start getting together again for meals?

Michael Nardacci

Albany