Share the love dinner provides encouragement and community to widows for Valentine’s day

By Julia Swain 

On a day known for romance, Beavercreek Christian Church is prioritizing widows by hosting a special community gathering.

The “share the love” dinner, which the church hosted on Saturday, February 8, helps support attendees through fellowship, food, and entertainment, which has included trivia, a fun video, and bingo in past years. The dinner is around two and a half hours long and is put on by volunteers who help with every facet of the event. 

“We came up with this idea to really love on these people,” said Ed Green, pastor of equipping and care.

This idea was one of the first events implemented by the church’s City Serve initiative, which is dedicated to the mission to find ways to support the local community. 

“One of the first things that we did [with the initiative] was we came up with the idea for the share the love dinner, and we were thinking in terms of having a heart for folks who have lost a spouse and thinking about Valentine’s Day and sometimes people can be kind of feel lonely, especially if they’ve lost the love of their life,” Green said. 

According to Green, the event has been well received since its implementation three years ago. 

“They just really appreciate it and always have a really enjoyable evening, and have at least a chance to have a good meal and have fun and connect with people,” Green said. “So it’s been a good thing for everyone involved.” 

This event also encourages people to invite those outside the church, as even those not a part of the church body have found support and a sense of community through the attendees and volunteers. 

Green also shared how the event draws people from beyond the church community, recalling how a woman from his neighborhood attended despite having no connection to the church. Additionally, Green highlighted a longtime church member and how her positive experience with the event has led her to invite friends from outside the church setting.  

“We want people to feel like they’ve been loved on,” Green said. “Give them the encouragement that they’re on someone’s mind. These people are older, most of them, so they’ve spent decades with their husband and wife and they’ve lost that so we just want them to feel remembered and loved on. I think we’ve accomplished that, and people who come really enjoy themselves and we feel that.” 

The event also encourages all age groups to get involved. 

“We have as many folks in our church who volunteer as possible,” Green said. “Just for people to get involved who have a heart for this event and connecting with the folks who come.”

Green also shared that the range of volunteers spans across many different demographics, and helps foster an opportunity for the whole church body to come together to work to build an uplifting and celebratory atmosphere. 

“From the first time people walk in the door we try to make it as warm and fun as possible, from the decorations to the music to the people working,” Green said. 

This event reminds widows that even in seasons of loss and grief, there is great joy in gathering together with a like-minded community. 

Julia Swain is a junior journalism student and the off-campus news editor for Cedars. She enjoys concerts, coffee, and watching and analyzing any Cleveland sports team.