Every Wednesday, approximately 30 high school students make the trek up Remington Road to Bexley United Methodist Church, where a $3 entry fee is the only thing separating them from an all-you-can-eat, freshly prepared meal.
Substitute teacher and Church Lunch volunteer Sharon Seckel said the church’s youth lunch program has existed for decades, partly due to its $3 price.
“It’s cheaper than getting in a car and driving down Broad Street to find something to eat,” she said.
Associate Pastor Scott Stedman said the Church Lunch menu rotates on a weekly basis between pizza bagels, tacos, meatball subs and pasta.
Stedman said the $3 lunch fee is only to cover the cost of the food. He has a spreadsheet to calculate the cost of all the ingredients, he said.
Stedman explained he works hard to keep the cost from exceeding $3 per meal while still maintaining high quality food.
He added Church Lunch is more affordable than other options around Bexley, which makes it appealing to students.
“Where else can you go and pay $3 for a meal and get seconds and thirds and it still costs $3?”he said. “You do that at Chipotle, and you’re paying 50 bucks.”
Senior Luke O’Brien said he goes to Church Lunch with his friends every week. He added the price is a large reason he keeps coming back.
“Three dollars is an amazing price point, especially for unlimited food,” O’Brien said.
He added the lunch is a welcome break in his schedule.
“It’s nice to have a place to go to once a week that is different from my regular routine,” he said.
Stedman said he enjoys organizing Church Lunch because it gives him the opportunity to cook. He said he began cooking during college to reduce expenses and impress his then-girlfriend.
He learned how to prepare meals for large groups by cooking his family’s Thanksgiving dinner, he added.
“Making the Thanksgiving feast really developed time management of when to cook things to have things ready and hot when people come to eat,” he said.
Stedman explained he aids volunteers and stays hands-on to make sure the lunches always run smoothly.
“I’m also responsible for getting volunteers and communicating with them, whether that’s coming in to help with the kitchen or making sure they’re bringing cookies,” he said.
Stedman said he is always taking suggestions and looking for ways to improve students’ experiences while maintaining the same price.
“It’s all for the benefit of the students,” he said.
Junior Lila Abbott said Church Lunch is a great opportunity to strengthen relationships with friends.
“I have friends in other grades who I don’t normally go to lunch with, and this brings us together,” she explained.
Seckel said after retiring from teaching, she missed interacting with high school students, and volunteering at Church Lunch provided a great way to do that.
Stedman said the commitment of volunteers like Seckel is a large reason the program has been able to endure for so long.
“The volunteers invest and are very curious to know about each and every student that comes through the doors,” he said.
The kindness of the volunteers creates a culture in which students can see they are truly cared for, Stedman explained.
“When you come in and people are greeting you and welcoming you, you just feel comfortable,” he said. “It almost feels like a home.”
Published and digitized December 2025
