Loaves and Fishes Meal Program

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Loaves and Fishes Meal Program We are one of the largest meal programs serving the people in need in Cambridge area. The kitchen opens at 5:30 pm every Saturday at First Korean Church.

Dinner on August 29, 2026----------------I (and my wife) asked my boy to read the day's Scripture. It was old-style Engl...
09/05/2026

Dinner on August 29, 2026----------------

I (and my wife) asked my boy to read the day's Scripture. It was old-style English—what we might call Victorian-era English—full of unfamiliar words, the kind of passage where most readers stumble over a place name or a person's name. I expected it to be a bit of a struggle for him, so I was honestly quite surprised when he read it through smoothly, without a single hitch.

What surprised me even more came the next day, when we went to see the movie The Odyssey. As we talked about the story together, I realized he had already read the classical epic on his own and knew the whole story inside and out. When I asked further, it turned out he had read a good number of other classics as well, which caught me off guard all over again. The more I learn about my boy, the more astonished and proud I become as his father. I think I need to spend more time with him going forward.

That day, together with my boy and many dedicated volunteers, we served every brother and sister who came to our table. Because it fell on the weekend when many schools were starting, quite a few of our regular volunteers were unable to join us. Even so, many wonderful volunteers came and served side by side with us. Hie and Eddy checked the blood pressure of many people, while our longtime friends prepared a heartwarming meal for the volunteers afterward.

Dinner on August 22, 2026--------------------------It was a tough, exhausting day from the start. Even before we opened ...
08/27/2026

Dinner on August 22, 2026--------------------------
It was a tough, exhausting day from the start. Even before we opened the doors, a long line had formed outside, and a fight broke out among a few people that required the police to come and de-escalate the situation. On top of that, the church had just started a painting project in our dining area, making the space and setup far more challenging to manage than usual.

We had a massive turnout and had to pull out every single extra table we possessed to make sure all of our brothers and sisters had a place to sit. Many guests arrived with limited mobility, in wheelchairs, or using walkers, crutches, and canes. Whenever someone needed a hand, our volunteers immediately rushed out to help them get inside safely and settle in.

With only a small team of volunteers, both the adults and high school students worked side by side to carry the heavy load. The adult volunteers gave their all to guide the evening smoothly through every challenge, while the youth—including my boy—worked tirelessly right alongside us without a single pause.

My son handled the dishes, but while meals were being served, he kept a close eye on the food line to restock items before anything ran out. The girls prepped and served, while the boys worked straight through from kitchen prep to final teardown. None of these young people hid behind the excuse of "just being a high school kid." They simply saw what needed to be done and did it with joy.

Despite the chaos and challenges of the evening, watching our adult volunteers lead with heart and these youth work so selflessly made me feel that they were all truly angels sent to care for our community tonight. I am so deeply grateful for every adult and young volunteer who made this night possible. ❤️🙏

Dinner on the day of Liberation—the day that marks the liberation of the Korean people, as well as all those across Asia...
08/22/2026

Dinner on the day of Liberation—the day that marks the liberation of the Korean people, as well as all those across Asia who suffered under Japanese occupation during World War II.

I apologize for not being able to post for a while. My family and I traveled for a few days, but more importantly, my son has recently started studying and preparing very seriously for the SAT and his school subjects. He needed a decent laptop and has been using my personal home laptop almost exclusively, so I haven't had much access to it! I finally figured out how to manage the situation. 😄

You know, however, regardless of this posting, we have been serving our brothers and sisters every Saturday without a pause, who were sent by the Lord to us.

I may even ask him to take over the task of posting about our dinners. He has already taken over a few important responsibilities and has been working very proactively and hard, as he always does. 😄

We had so many brothers and sisters gathered around our table. We broke bread, shared a meal, and shared our love.

Many wonderful volunteers from our church's young adult group, as well as volunteers from other local churches, worked together. As always, Cambridge school teachers and students, along with high school students from nearby towns, also came and helped make the dinner possible.

We will also have cakes and celebrate the birthdays of those whose birthdays are coming up next week. 🎂

Dinner on June 13, 2026---------------I shared the following reflection at the beginning of the dinner:"Yesterday was in...
06/14/2026

Dinner on June 13, 2026---------------
I shared the following reflection at the beginning of the dinner:
"Yesterday was incredibly hot, and we decided to go grocery shopping just to find some relief from the heat. We don't have air conditioning at home. As we finished our shopping, we picked up a small box of popsicles to help us cool down.
At that moment, my boy said to me, “Dad, we can buy some more for the meal program and serve them as dessert today.” Those may not have been his exact words, but his message was very clear.
It was an amazing moment for me. I thought about the little boy who started serving in this ministry when he was only three years old. Now he has grown into a caring and considerate teenager who is a rising juinor at CRLS. Seeing that touched my heart.
I wanted to share this with you, my brothers and sisters. Some of you may feel lonely, forgotten, or helpless. But I want you to remember this: even in moments like these, there are people who remember you, care about you, and take action to bring good things to you.
There are many people—including my boy and the volunteers you see here tonight—who care about you, who are concerned for you, who think about you, and who pray for you. And they do more than pray. They work hard to bring something good into your life, even if it is something as simple as a popsicle on a hot day or a meal shared around this table.
This table is here because people care.
For that, I am grateful."

Dinner on June 6, 2026------------------It was an extremely hot day, and simply standing in the kitchen felt challenging...
06/11/2026

Dinner on June 6, 2026------------------
It was an extremely hot day, and simply standing in the kitchen felt challenging. Nevertheless, our dedicated brothers and sisters generously volunteered their time and energy to serve the community. Despite the heat, they prepared and shared a warm, delicious meal with caring hearts, bringing comfort and fellowship to all who attended.

We are deeply grateful for their commitment, kindness, and spirit of service.

Dinner on May 30, 2026-----------------Perhaps because it was the second-to-last day of the month, we had an unusually l...
06/05/2026

Dinner on May 30, 2026-----------------
Perhaps because it was the second-to-last day of the month, we had an unusually large turnout. Many people joined our community dinner, and we had to set up additional tables to accommodate everyone. We were also fortunate to have a large number of volunteers. Many of them were local school kids. To support them, our longtime friends generously provided dinner (돈까쓰) for the volunteer team.

“Dad, we should go grocery shopping for the meal program this evening,” my son said on Thursday. I had originally planne...
05/30/2026

“Dad, we should go grocery shopping for the meal program this evening,” my son said on Thursday. I had originally planned to go on Friday, but that would not have worked for him. He had already promised a friend that he would help coach and support him during a rowing machine time trial. Both of them are dedicated rowing athletes, and he wanted to honor that commitment.

So we went shopping on Thursday instead. As we worked together, I noticed how much he has grown into the ministry. He was not simply helping carry items or push a cart; he was actively thinking about the needs of the people we serve. At one point, he spoke up and said, “Many people who come to our community dinner did not like that. We should buy this instead.” His comments helped us make better decisions about what to purchase.

The little boy who first started to come to the meal program with his parents fourteen years ago has become a capable, thoughtful, and dedicated member of the ministry team. Watching him take ownership and genuinely care about the people we serve filled me with pride.

I have always been proud of my son, but moments like this remind me just how much he has grown and how fortunate I am to watch him become such a caring and responsible young man.

Dinner on May 23, 2026----------------------It was a weekend when many occasions overlapped — Pentecost, Buddha’s Birthd...
05/25/2026

Dinner on May 23, 2026----------------------
It was a weekend when many occasions overlapped — Pentecost, Buddha’s Birthday, and Memorial Day weekend. On special days like these, I usually read a short reflection before we begin breaking bread together. However, that evening we had so many brothers and sisters in need, and we were a little short-staffed, so we began serving as soon as we finished our table prayer.

Even so, it was a very memorable and blessed night.

Dinner on May 16, 2026----------------------As it was the third Saturday of the month, we celebrated the birthdays of th...
05/25/2026

Dinner on May 16, 2026----------------------
As it was the third Saturday of the month, we celebrated the birthdays of those who had birthdays in May. We invited them to the front, cut cakes together, and sang “Happy Birthday.” We do this every third Saturday of the month.

Though it may seem like a small gesture, for some, it was their first birthday celebration in many years.

Dinner on May 9, 2026-----------------We gathered to send off our beloved sister JungHee (하정희) and her daughter Summer, ...
05/25/2026

Dinner on May 9, 2026-----------------
We gathered to send off our beloved sister JungHee (하정희) and her daughter Summer, who would be leaving for California the next day for her medical training. The entire community reflected on all that she and her family have done and expressed our heartfelt gratitude.

We sent them off with our blessings and prayers. She and her family have truly given so much to this ministry, and they will be deeply missed.

I truly regret that I did not take any pictures of her and her family that evening.

Address

35 Magazine Street
Cambridge, MA
02139

Opening Hours

5pm - 5pm

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