As the Island’s cost of living continues to rise, local community supper programs are seeing an increase in residents looking for relief, with demand for food at an all-time high this year. 

As the Island moves into deep winter and employment opportunities become scarce, numerous organizations step up each season to help with food insecurity and isolation issues.

Takeout, delivery or drive-through — this year churches around Martha’s Vineyard are transforming their wintertime community suppers to a new, pandemic-safe format.

The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury begins its 2021 community meals, on a pre-reserved basis for take-out and delivery only, Jan. 13.

The West Tisbury Congregational Church is offering drive-by pickup meals on March 18 from 5 to 6 p.m.

While Island schools are on vacation this week, free community lunches are being served at two Martha’s Vineyard libraries through Friday.

Six nights and one afternoon a week from January through March, churches around Martha’s Vineyard welcome everyone to take a seat and enjoy a free community supper or lunch.

Each winter the Island churches come together to offer free meals to help Islanders break bread together through the dark nights of winter.

Just in time for winter, Vineyard churches are once again providing a hot meal every day of the week.

Each night of the week during the winter, Island churches take turns opening their doors to offer free meals and beds.