For the past 8 years, the city of Ashland has worked with the community peace meal to help ensure that our most vulnerable neighbors were invited inside Pioneer Hall to share meals together, especially during the coldest months of the year. Today, Pioneer Hall sits empty. Our community meals are held outside, regardless of temperatures, and we’re hearing from some folks that they are no longer able to come to dinner. It’s too cold for disabled and elderly people to stand in the cold and eat a meal, so many are going hungry.

We can do better.

We will gather along the sidewalk in front of Ashland Plaza on every Monday at 4 p.m. to raise awareness of this growing concern. Bring your own dinner, and we’ll stand outside and eat together in the cold weather, just like our hungry neighbors do.

We’ve continued to ask for the use of Pioneer Hall and agree to the city’s numerous stipulations for its temporary use. Construction isn’t slated to begin until mid 2024, and in the meantime, this public, community building could be used to provide a space for our community meals, which are free and accessible to all.