Ladles of Love Entering a New Chapter

If you have not yet been to a Ladles of Love dinner on a second or third Thursday, the sounds of friendly chatter and pots clanging, along with the aroma of coffee and home cooked food, will guide you down the halls of Sparta’s Trinity Lutheran Church, right to the dining room. Twice a month, on the second and third Thursdays of the month, a dinner is created for a crowd of 20to 40 people, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at 612 North Water Street, in the church basement. The meals are prepared with love, by volunteers from various groups and clubs, who signed up in advance to cook and prepare the meal. Ladles of Love Organizer, Michael Bonello, explained that, “Ladles of Love is not an official ministry of Trinity, but Trinity has graciously offered Ladles of Love the full use of their kitchen and fellowship hall.”

On November 14th, the Sparta Key Club (High School Kiwanis Club) prepared a loaded baked potato bar, dessert, and coffee for their neighbors. It was a big hit! Past dinners have been dished up by Sparta Area School District Staff and Administration, the Boy Scouts, local banks, and other groups. Some dinners are being planned for December and January, by volunteers who have signed up for those slots, and some slots remain open, starting in February, for groups like yours to sign up for.

Michael Bonello shared information about the resources available to groups who volunteer to cook. Ladles of Love (LL) and sponsor KWIK Trip offer the following: “LL receives a $25 credit each week from Kwik Trip. It normally pays for 2 gallons of chocolate milk and 1 gallon of white milk, some condiments, bread and some fruit. LL also has a VISA card that can be used. Just provide receipts. We also have a checking account to repay food purchases with receipts. The meal cost is around $100 per week. The goal is for a simple, well balanced, yet delicious meal! Hope you consider providing a meal.”

Ladles of Love has officially become a non-profit, charitable organization - (501(c)3). Ladles of Love will gratefully accept donations of any size, to continue serving free meals to members of our community.

Ladles of Love says: “We have all slots filled for the remainder of 2024.  But 2025 is wide open for you to serve!”

To view open dates and to sign up to serve a meal, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/38baf8ev