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Published: Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 / Updated: Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 04:21 PM

Community Cafe to serve again Feb. 5 in Lake Wylie

LAKE WYLIE -- 

The Community Cafe’s return to Lake Wylie will take a little longer than anticipated, but momentum is stirring for a Feb. 5 launch.

From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 5, and each Tuesday thereafter, a free and hot lunch will be served at Lake Wylie Christian Assembly. Planners had hoped for perhaps a late January opening, but settled on the first Tuesday in February. The opening will bring back a community lunch last served May 2011 in Lake Wylie.

“It will be every Tuesday at this time in the gym at Lake Wylie Christian Assembly,” said Billy Ginn, associate pastor at the church. “A great lunch and a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors.”

Community Cafe began as a weekly free meal in early 2010, then at River Hills Community Church. More than 33,000 meals were served before that location’s closing last May. Last July, a cafe opened at Lake Wylie Lutheran Church in Fort Mill.

Another Fort Mill cafe began at Bethlehem Baptist Church in June 2011, which is still operating but has been turned over to the church there.

The former Lake Wylie location operated on Wednesdays and the current Fort Mill one on Fridays, while the coming cafe will set up on Tuesdays. Otherwise it should be quite similar to the existing format.

“Folks can leave a donation for those who can’t,” Ginn said. “This is a free lunch event for the Lake Wylie community.”

Don Murfin is the original head chef behind the cafe openings. He’s already lined up a volunteer coordinator for the Lake Wylie Christian Assembly site and there’s a banner designed.

“We are recruiting volunteers for the cafe,” Murfin said. “Already have some from the church plus others who served when the cafe at River Hills (Community Church) was open.”

Work continues ahead of the opening to ensure that the church kitchen meets all state health requirements for the large service events. At its first January lunch, the Fort Mill cafe served 253 lunches. It’s served more than 5,000 since its opening.

In addition to dine-in service, to-go orders and deliveries to area charitable organizations are regularly part of the cafe’s offering.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the new cafe can call 803-554-0865 or 330-289-1243. For more information, visit communitycafecares.com.