By Lois Rogers| Correspondent

Since May, 2008, the social hall of Brick's Visitation Parish has been the setting of a dynamic and successful community lunch on the third Wednesday of the month.

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The festive meal was created to unite adults of all generations – especially those in the 08732 zip code where the parish is located – welcoming the lonely, those struggling with physical infirmities or financial woes in a way that melds food, friendship and faith said its founders, Frank and Isabel Kronicz.

But when Superstorm Sandy wreaked so much havoc on those who live in that zip code and its surrounds in Ocean and Monmouth counties in 2013, the parish, its pastor, Father Albert Ricciardelli, the Kroniczs' and the dedicated crew of volunteers who made the monthly luncheon such a success, realized there was a need to expand the concept.

The outcome is a weekly soup, salad and sandwich luncheon that draws a wide spectrum of the population in the area who have yet to completely recover from the hurricane.

Beginning only four months after the storm, instead of once a month, every Wednesday has become a day for dining in community.

The menu is lighter than the full course offering on third Wednesdays where a full meal with all the trimmings even includes small gift bags and sandwiches to take home.

On April 2, for instance, the 60 or so attending, enjoyed a robust soup featuring a melange of fresh vegetables in a flavorful broth thickened with Irish oatmeal. To take home, there were loaves of bread donated regularly by the nearby Atlanta Bread Factory.

As the luncheon guests, including a group of young adults with developmental disabilities who make the trip regularly from Belmar, enjoyed their meal, Isabel took a break from overseeing the activity. She reflected on what is regarded around the parish as a natural reaction to the need around them.

The weekly luncheon is one more outgrowth of the food bank started 16 years ago which led to the monthly community luncheon, she said. Helping the parish to sustain the ongoing and growing effort are contributions from area businesses, civic groups and schools.

That need has only grown since Sandy, she said.

“The need created by Sandy was so immediately apparent and it is lasting so long,” said Isabel. She spoke wistfully not only of residents – such as seniors, like herself, who live in Sea View Village where 89 homes were damaged – who come to dine, but the volunteers.

She noted that some remain relocated a distance away – in Sayreville for instance – but travel in weekly to help out.

Each week they strive to meet the goals of the mission statement of the program as they strive to “graciously serve the public, persistently improve the program and unconditionally feed the spirit,” noted Isabel.

“It's not only for the poor in money,” she said. “It's for the poor in spirit.”

“With Sandy, we saw the hunger and we all said we need to do more – we need to have a meal once a week. It's good medicine,” said Isabel, a retired nurse who turned 80 last week.

Watching with her, it was clear that the weekly luncheon – just like the Third Wednesday event – runs like a well-oiled machine with the large compliment of volunteers dedicating themselves non-stop to their assigned chores: prep work and set up, cooking, serving and, most importantly, making everyone feel at home.

The Kroniczs' have their assigned chores as well with Frank, 81, overseeing the kitchen and Isabel working to keep the pantry full. “Everyone's heart is in the right place,” she said.

Deacon Nick Stranieri describes the event as “whole food for anyone who needs it.”

For some seniors who attend regularly, the lunch is their weekly outing, he said. “You don't have to have money, you just come.”

Those who don't drive are picked up by volunteers, he said. With the bad weather this winter there has been a lot of ride sharing, he added.

“What you find here is a lot of camaraderie. The people who come get to enjoy their friendships and make new friends.”

Among those who attend the lunches as often as possible are Sylvia and Jerry D'Alessio, Ruth Frazzano and Kathy Le Doux.

As the April 2 lunch was drawing to a close, they spoke of how they enjoy the opportunity it gives them to “get out, get together and have a good time,” as Sylvia said.

“The food is good, the company is wonderful,” he said.

Frazzano chimed in: “What I enjoy most is that people are helping one another.”

Le Doux, who brings her 94-year-old mom, Louise, to the luncheons, summed it up well: "Everyone here is so nice. We like everything here."