A Lunch Ministry Returns in Pittsfield 

by Hugo Bravo 

Every other Friday at noon, a Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services truck pulls up to the Berkshire Athenaeum, the official name for the public library in Pittsfield, Mass. Volunteer Rebecca Litourneau has spent hours preparing soup, sandwiches, snacks, and drinks to serve out of the EDS truck to people who are homeless and frequently gather outside the library building.  

“This type of outreach was being done in 2019, but when COVID-19 hit, all that stopped,” says Captain Justin Barter, corps officer in Pittsfield. “This year, we began discussions with the library about bringing it back, and Rebecca said she would take on the ministry herself.” 

After a few test runs, a firm schedule was set for the Army to be at the library every other Friday for lunch. Rebecca and her daughter Addie became the faces of The Salvation Army to the homeless community in the area. Now, Rebecca greets the people by name, ready with a ham and cheese sandwich, coffee, and cookies. She has listened to their stories and remembers when some of them will need to take an extra meal for their friends or families. Over 70 people are served on a normal Friday, many of them already waiting in line by the time the EDS truck arrives.  

Captain Justin stressed the importance of the Army stepping out of its buildings and into the community, especially in small towns like Pittsfield. 

“When my wife and I arrived here four years ago, we were giving away many food boxes, but not so many prepared meals,” says Captain Justin. “Pittsfield is a little mountain town in western Massachusetts, but it has seen its homeless population grow in recent years. The service of giving food and interacting directly with the people we help will always be needed, no matter the size of your community.” 

He added, “Rebecca has had so many roles at The Salvation Army. She’s cooked at the corps and been present with EDS for floods and tornadoes in the area. And now, we’re so grateful that she decided to tag in and take on this ministry.”