Did you happen to pass through downtown last Tuesday? The smell was otherworldly. As I moved from errand to errand, I was consumed by it. It was a distractingly, unusual aroma, not common in our little community. As errands dwindled, the smell increased, beckoning me to investigate. Finally, about 4 pm, I found the first clues.
That smell wafted from buildings at Dahlonega Methodist Church, Dahlonega Baptist Church, St. Luke Catholic Church, The Torch, The Fountain, and The Bridge. The tantalizing aroma trail included Berea Baptist, Foothills Fellowship, and Bethlehem Baptist. The walls, windows, and doors couldn’t contain the deliciousness! I had been translated to Italy! The delicacy whispering my name all day was garlic. The event: Spaghetti Supper! The largest fundraiser of the year for Jeremiah’s Place was consuming the airways of Lumpkin County.
Not so surprising, but even greater than the garlic euphoria was the beauty of the people (also “marinated” in garlic) wrestling noodles, mixing sauces, laughing, and enjoying themselves. I had not only discovered the delectable mystery but also stumbled into several holy moments.
I saw an exhausted group of ladies who had been tossing sauce all day finally sit down in late evening, breaking bread and ruminating in the wonder of the blessings they had just experienced.
I saw a little grandmother alone in a sanctuary-converted cafe strewn with linen tablecloths, enjoying a free meal with her seven-year-old granddaughter who she is raising on her own.
I saw faces light up of second shift employees receiving the meals delivered to the 911 call center, fire station, UNG police, and the sheriff’s office in honor of their hard work.
In an aftercare gathering this week, we gave an opportunity for the “noodle slingers” to vent their frustrations and download all of the good, bad, and ugly. Instead of complaints, I encountered an enthusiastic group of newly introduced friends, laughing, bantering about whose sauce is the best, and sharing testimonies of the many blessings they encountered on “The Day Dahlonega was Consumed by Garlic.”
As we wrap up all our sauce, signs, and clam shell containers, I close with a couple more observations. Not only did we break bread together for those less fortunate. I think we also just hosted the largest church service in the history of Lumpkin County, dinner included.
So, thank you Dahlonega! Your gifts of cooking, serving, driving through, eating in, eating out, and digging deep in your pockets will allow us to house and assist many more Lumpkin County individuals and families who find themselves without a home in 2024. We couldn’t do this ministry without you!
So, the next time you smell garlic, pray for Jeremiah’s Place and the ones you “lifted up” through your support of our Spaghetti Supper fundraiser.
Kerri Johnson
Executive Director of Jeremiah’s Place
North Ga. Interfaith Ministries, Inc.
A big thank you to our Spaghetti Supper sponsors, volunteers, hosts, those who dined in and out, and our supportive community.