The Transformative Power of Community

A meal that changed everything.

Here’s my story—maybe it’s a little like yours—about how Greenfield's Stone Soup Café reeled me in and gave me hope, purpose, and something tangible to invest in.

It’s been a hard few weeks, but the Café has been a lifeline—reminding me that resistance and survival begin withcommunity, connection, and care.

Picture this: It’s late summer, and the town common is transformed into an outdoor banquet, open to all. People arrive from nearby towns by bicycle, bus, pickup trucks, Priuses, and old beaters like mine. Some come on foot, drawn in by the aroma of fresh, locally sourced food filling the warm air. A band plays as volunteers serve up plate after plate of vibrant, nourishing dishes.

It’s some of the best food I’ve ever tasted, and there’s no price tag—just an openinvitation to give what you can. People gather at round tables, going back for seconds, swapping stories, and meeting neighbors they might never have spoken to otherwise.This is Stone Soup Café’s annual Harvest Supper.

That day on the Greenfield Town Common, I felt something shift inside me.

From spectator to participant

I left the Harvest Supper amazed—not just by the food, but by the feeling of belonging it created. I wanted to understand how something so generous, so joyful, could happen. And more than that, I wanted to be part of it.

So, as winter settled in, I signed up for a volunteer shift. Saturday morning, I found myself in a warm, bustling kitchen, chopping carrots alongside a team of people who welcomed me like an old friend.

Since then, I’ve shoveled snow, packed meals, hauled root crops, and chopped more vegetables than I can count. It’s hard work, but we laugh a lot. We share stories. We show up for each other.

In a world that often feels unsteady, Stone Soup Café offers something solid—proof that we can take care of one another, that we can meet both hunger and isolation with abundance and connection, in ways that "policies" can't.

To me, the heart of it all is simple: From each according to their ability, to each according to their need. Stone Soup doesn’t just believe in this principle—it brings it to life, every single day.

There's a Place for You at the Table

Stone Soup Café is more than a meal—it’s a movement. A movement for kindness and taking care of one another in tangible ways. And I invite you to be part of it.

• Volunteer with me — chop, cook, serve, deliver meals, or help behind the scenes.
• Join me for a meal — come eat, connect, and experience the magic of community. In addition to our regular to-go Saturday meals, the Café is hosting an upcoming Community Soup Night on Monday, March 10th from 5-7pm!
• Donate — your support helps keep this work going strong. Every dollar makes a difference.

Whatever way you choose to participate, know this: You matter here. You are welcome. And together, we can keep building something beautiful.

I’ll see you at the Café.