“The Art of Lunch” Connects Businesses & Community Organizations to Bridge Hunger Gap
09-08-2025The COVID-19 pandemic caused more people than ever to come face-to-face with hunger. COVID restrictions barred customers from restaurants and local businesses, resulting in an economic downturn. Community meal programs struggled to provide nutritious meals to people experiencing homelessness or food insecurity when donations hit an all-time low. However, where many saw only inevitable suffering, Nina Goodick saw an opportunity to address the problem by connecting organizations in her Gloucester community.
A New Program Plays to Each Organization’s Strengths
Goodick, a longtime Lifebridge volunteer and former Cape Ann Museum (CAM) board member, connected the CAM, Together Gloucester, and Lifebridge’s Grace Center to fund and provide community meals from local restaurants. The program, “The Art of Lunch,” serves these meals to the Grace Center, where guests can eat and enjoy cultural enrichment opportunities.
“The Art of Lunch allows all these local organizations to offer what they do best to benefit our folks at the Grace Center,” says Director Frank Friedman. “Folks who are often vulnerable, underserved, lonely and isolated have the opportunity to come together, eat a delicious meal, and enjoy experiences that are often behind a pay wall.” The go above and beyond anything that the Grace Center could do on its own. While Together Gloucester organizes and schedules restaurants participating in the program, the CAM invites meal attendees to museum and exhibits. Additionally, flower arrangements from Audrey’s Flower Shop and Sage Floral Studio add color and warmth to the tables at every meal.
The Program’s Success Carries on Post-COVID
Originally, Goodick and Together Gloucester coordinated funding for the meals from local community members and organizations. Today, meals are donated by restaurants from all over the city like the Beauport Hospitality Group’s Seaport Grill. “Our Grace Center clients really appreciate the opportunity to enjoy food from a ‘fancy’ restaurant, and the educational component provided by the Cape Ann Museum enriches their experience even more,” says Friedman.
The Art of Lunch continues to serve meals every other Wednesday at the Grace Center, which was only made possible by one woman’s initiative during a difficult time in recent history. “Nina is a force,” says Friedman. “She has a huge heart. She created the Art of Lunch because she cares and she knows a lot of people. She’s still such a wonderful coordinator in all of this, often picking up the meals herself.” Thanks to Goodick, local restaurants, and so many Gloucester organizations, Lifebridge’s Grace Center is part of a larger and more impactful community movement to address hunger in the North Shore.