Lentils, Lemonade, and a Whole Lot of Cookies

A Cooked Meal at the Lentil Festival

On August 22, A Cooked Meal rolled into the Lentil Festival ready for sunshine, smiles, and possibly a light weather-related plot twist. The day was hot, humid, and flirting with rain, but that did not stop people from showing up cheerful, curious, and very willing to accept a cookie. Honestly, we respect that kind of commitment.

Photo break: A Cooked Meal booth all let up and ready for people!

And cookies there were. We handed out close to 1,000 of them, which is either a beautiful act of community connection or a very impressive unofficial arm workout. Festivalgoers got to choose from sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies, snickerdoodles, and chocolate chip cookies—also known as the four food groups of a successful booth.

We also handed out twenty-four Lentil Soup in a Jar kits and offered free lemonade to anyone who needed a cool drink. In weather that felt a little like the inside of a soup pot, lemonade was not just a beverage—it was a tiny cup of relief.

Photo break: Cookies, Lentil Soup in a Jar kits, a close-up of the booth table in all its snack-filled glory.

Our spin-the-wheel game was a crowd favorite. Guests could win Lentil Soup in a Jar, one of our cookie options, or the chance to choose a cookie by answering trivia. Trivia categories included Food Sustainability, Agriculture, and Farm to Table, so people got to stretch their brains before stretching their hands toward the cookie tray.

Photo break: Table layout including coloring pages for the kids to enjoy. As well as our free lemonade.

The booth stayed busy all day, with a steady flow of people stopping by—and at times, a line of more than ten patient festivalgoers waiting to connect with us. We loved meeting locals, chatting with visitors, sharing a laugh, and spreading the word about our mission. Every conversation was a reminder that good food may bring people to the table, but community is what makes them stay.

Photo break: Festivalgoers chatting with volunteers, a line at the booth.

We also shared information about ways people can get involved. A Cooked Meal is always looking for volunteers, donations, and fresh ideas from people who care about feeding neighbors, building connection, and making sure no one has to wonder where their next warm meal might come from.

Come See Us Again Soon

If you missed us at the festival—or if you stopped by and thought, “I would absolutely like more of this kind of thing”—we have several upcoming opportunities to connect:

·         September 1: Community Meal in Uniontown

·         September 6: Annual Meeting

·         September 15: Community Meal in Uniontown

·         September 18: Trivia Night fundraiser at Uniontown Taphouse

Our annual meeting is a great place to share your thoughts, tell us where you see the next need in the community, and learn about open board roles. We are currently looking for help with social media and community outreach, secretary duties, event coordination, and member-at-large positions. If you have a heart for neighbors and a willingness to jump in, we would love to hear from you.

Photo break: In the picture, from left to right, two festivalgoers, Chairman Cece, Treasurer Jason, Member at Large Harley, and Vice Chair Stephanie.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth, spun the wheel, answered trivia, grabbed a cookie, sipped some lemonade, asked a question, made us laugh, or simply offered a friendly hello. The Lentil Festival was a wonderful reminder that community can be built one conversation, one meal, and yes, one cookie at a time. We left grateful, encouraged, and already looking forward to what comes next.