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Ms. Cheap: Downtown Pres’ Waffle Shop 2022 is for real this year




Volunteer cooks fire up 20 waffle irons to make the signature waffles from the original “secret” recipe for the Downtown Presbyterian Church Waffle Shop.

Volunteer cooks fire up 20 waffle irons to make the signature waffles from the original “secret” recipe for the Downtown Presbyterian Church Waffle Shop.

We all know that many of our favorite events went “virtual” during the pandemic – concerts, events, meetings, fundraisers etc.

And while it is true that the virtual experiences were a good way to keep people engaged and entertained in a time when people could not congregate, they were not the same as the real thing.

And one of my favorite events that was a real stretch to present “virtually” was the almost century old Downtown Presbyterian Church’s Waffle Shop where hundreds of people would stand in line to eat waffles and listen to Les Kerr’s music as a way to support this church’s ministry to the homeless.

During the two COVID years, the church tried to fundraise by selling a waffle weave dish towel one year and waffle mix the next year.

But it was definitely a challenge, almost a tortuous one, to experience the Waffle Shop without eating one of the delicious homemade waffles in the church fellowship hall with other waffle shop supporters.

Visitors to Downtown Presbyterian Church's Waffle Shop enjoy breakfast. The event will be held in person again this year.

Visitors to Downtown Presbyterian Church’s Waffle Shop enjoy breakfast. The event will be held in person again this year.

So, I am thrilled to report that the Waffle Shop is back in person this year.

And according to organizers, this 98th annual Waffle Shop will be better than ever when it takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 in the church’s fellowship hall.

Not only will the volunteer cooks fire up 20 waffle irons to make the signature waffles from the original “secret” recipe that has been used at the “shop” since 1924, also but this year, instead of the original turkey hash menu item, there will be Hattie B’s Hot Chicken.

And they are offering free shuttle service to and from the church from Nissan Stadium parking lots.

The Waffle Shop luncheon, which originally marked the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in downtown Nashville, has evolved over the years to raise significant funding for food and supplies to provide weekly sack lunches for the disadvantaged.

The $15 tickets include: homemade waffles, grits, a choice of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken or sausage, and a choice of Frothy Monkey Coffee or spiced tea.

Hance

Hance

You also get a free guided tour of the church’s beautiful historic sanctuary, which was completed in 1851. The sanctuary and the church’s fellowship hall were both used as a Civil War Union Army hospital between 1862 and 1865.

The 800-seat sanctuary was built in the Egyptian Revival style, by William Strickland, who was also the architect of the Tennessee State Capitol.

The tours, led by historian (and church member) Jim Hoobler, take about 20 minutes and highlight the inside of the sanctuary which was not painted until 1880 and the stained-glass windows representing Egypt, which were added in the 1880s.

You can also climb to the balcony to get a glimpse of the rope for the two-ton bell which was given to the church by Adelicia Acklen in the 19th century. The bell, which is rung each Sunday, served in the early days as the city’s fire alarm.

There will also be shopping in the church’s gift shop which has baked goods and other merchandise, and there will also be a silent auction as part of the fundraiser.

This downtown church, which has only about 200 members, spends almost $15,000 a year in food and supplies for its sack lunch program, which feeds 100-150 people each week.

The Waffle Shop, pre-COVID, usually raised about $10,000 for the programs but the alternative fundraising in 2020 and 2021 fell far short of that.

Organizers say buying tickets and/or making donations support the church’s considerable community outreach program, which primarily targets the homeless.

“Each ticket is a contribution to DPC’s Fish & Loaves ministry,” the flyers about the Waffle Shop say. “This outreach ministry assists those in our local Nashville community who need food and clothing. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly to the Fish and Loaves ministry at The Downtown Presbyterian Church.”

“As a downtown congregation, we believe God has called us to reach out into the surrounding community and support Nashville’s most vulnerable and marginalized residents. Addressing the needs of those struggling to live with burdens such as urban poverty, homelessness, addiction, and domestic abuse is best achieved by partnering with dedicated organizations who have built up expertise and effectiveness in their given fields,” the church leadership said in its announcement of the return of the in-person Waffle Shop.

Mary Hance, who has four decades of journalism experience in the Nashville area, writes a weekly Ms. Cheap column. She also appears on Thursdays on Talk of the Town on NewsChannel5. Reach her at mscheap@mainstreetmediatn.com and follow her on Facebook as Facebook.com/mscheap

Where: Downtown Presbyterian Church, 154 Rep. John Lewis Way N. (at the corner of Church Street and what was formerly known as Fifth Avenue North)

When: Thursday, Dec. 1, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cost: Advance tickets are $15, and $20 on the day of the event at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the church website,  dpchurch.com.

Parking: Free parking is available in Lot B of Nissan Stadium, with free shuttle service to and from the church provided by Old Town Trolley.

Ongoing ministry: Downtown Presbyterian welcomes volunteers for its Fish and Loaves ministry.

Details: dpchurch.com

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