By Anna Skiner
Guests of the annual Westfield Friends Church Chicken Noodle Dinner knew exactly where to go as a man dressed in a chicken suit stood on Union Street directing them towards the correct entrance of the church on Nov. 9. Once inside, attendees purchased their tickets and collected a hearty meal of homemade food.
“We’ve been doing this Chicken Noodle Dinner since the ’70s,” said JoAnn Edwards, member of the Friends Church since 1961. “We use it to raise money for special projects, and part of it always goes to missions.”
Earlier this year the Westfield Friends Church went on a mission trip to Kenya. They also helped people in southern Indiana after the destructive tornados this spring. Organizers said some of the money also goes to help raise funds for building projects for the church. That portion of the money from the dinner will go toward constructing a new parking lot.
There is a noodle-making day that occurs in September or October each year where members get together to make the noodles for the annual dinner. Edwards said everything is homemade by the members of the church, even the large number of desserts ranging from pumpkin pie to brownies.
An auction also was held during the dinner, where attendees bid on items such as handmade quilts, paintings and afghan blankets made by a member of the church. The money collected from the auction will also go toward mission trips, special projects and building funds.
“It’s more of something to connect the community and the church than anything,” Edwards said. “It’s a place for people to come and enjoy and visit. It’s an outreach.”
To learn more about the church’s future events, visit the Westfield Friends Church Facebook page.
