The Interfaith Council on Homelessness voted last month to offer two community dinners per week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at the Vashon Presbyterian Church.

The group has sponsored an overnight shelter two nights a week for the past few winters but decided this year to offer only meals.

“We ended up using the resources of the church and dozens of volunteers for the overnight shelter but discovered that most of the homeless would not use it,” said Emma Amiad, president of the Interfaith Council. “Many of these folks are sleeping in cars or camping out and fear the loss of their few possessions if they are gone at night. They would rather sleep with their stuff and know it’s safe.”

The group took a survey of those who showed up at the shelter and found that they most valued the meals and the fellowship with other members of the community.

This discovery helped lead the council towards offering only meals, which provide hot food for those in need and offer hospitality and a chance for volunteers to make contact with the homeless and find out other needs each individual may have.

“Without a doubt, our greatest need on Vashon is to keep people in housing,” Amiad said. “With the economy the way it is, we have an even greater need this year to help people with heating bills and medical expenses.”

The Interfaith Council on Homelessness works with St. Vincent de Paul, the Vashon Maury Community Food Bank, Vashon Youth & Family Services and other groups.

The group, funded solely by private donations, is made up of volunteers from Vashon’s churches as well as those not affiliated with a church who want to help those in need.

The meals will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Presbyterian Church. The first community dinner will be held Tuesday, Oct. 21, Anyone is welcome.

To volunteer or make a donation, contact the Interfaith Council on Homelessness at P.O. Box 330, Vashon, 98070.