The Friday Meal. Made with neighbors, for neighbors.
Every week, volunteers cook and serve around 150 free, hot meals to our Fond du Lac community. You can be part of it.
Fridays at 5:00 PM
Cathedral of St. Paul — 51 W. Division St.
~150 per week
How it works — in three steps.
Sign up for a Friday
Use the calendar sign-up link to choose your date (you may need to click “Jump to next bookable date”), fill out our short form, and tell us a bit about your group. We’ll confirm your spot and send you everything you need to know.
Prepare the meal
Your group shops for ingredients and arrives at the Cathedral of St. Paul kitchen at 3:00 PM on your Friday to cook. We’ll be there to help and have the kitchen ready for you.
Serve the community
At 5:00 PM, you serve the meal to our neighbors. We provide the containers, utensils, condiments, and an extra set of hands. You bring the food and the heart.
Choose your path.
Cook & serve a meal
Bring a group — or sign up solo and we’ll connect you with others. Your group provides the ingredients, prepares the food, and serves our neighbors. Hope on the Block handles the rest.
- Works for groups and individuals
- Kitchen provided at no cost
- 3–4 volunteers recommended
- We provide containers, utensils & condiments
- Typical ingredient cost: ~$300
Sponsor a week
Can’t make it in person? Sponsor a Friday for $300 and we’ll handle everything — shopping, cooking, and serving — in your name or your organization’s name.
- Zero time commitment required
- Great for businesses & organizations
- Acknowledgment on our social media
- Tax-deductible donation (EIN 92-1048256)
Your Friday, hour by hour.
Plan your menu & shop
Decide on a main dish and 1–2 sides. Shop for ~150 servings. See the meal ideas below for inspiration and quantities.
Arrive at the kitchen
The kitchen at Cathedral of St. Paul (51 W. Division St.) is ready for you at 3:00 PM. A Hope on the Block volunteer will greet you. Bring your ingredients and any specialty equipment.
Prepare the meal
Two hours to cook, assemble, and pack. We’ll have to-go containers, salad containers, condiments, and silverware ready. Additional Hope volunteers may assist.
Serve
Meals are served outside in good weather, indoors in winter. Serving typically wraps up within an hour. You’ll interact directly with community members — it’s the best part.
Cleanup & done
We handle the breakdown together. Most groups are done by 5:30–6:00 PM.
Full licensed kitchen · To-go containers · Salad containers · Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, dressing) · Compostable silverware · Serving tables · Extra volunteers
Ingredients for ~150 servings · 3–4 volunteers · Any specialty equipment or serving dishes your recipe needs · Contact us ahead if you’re unsure
Cathedral of St. Paul
51 W. Division St.
Fond du Lac, WI
Meal served outside (or inside in winter)
What should I make?
There’s no required menu — you choose what to cook. Here are crowd-tested ideas that scale well, travel well, and stay within a reasonable budget. A typical meal is a main dish + 1–2 sides.
Soups & stews
Chili, chicken noodle, beef vegetable, or potato soup. Easy to batch-cook, serve hot, and customize.
Pasta dishes
Spaghetti with meat sauce, baked ziti, mac and cheese. Scales easily and is universally loved.
Taco / bowl bar
Ground beef or chicken tacos, rice bowls. Easy to serve in to-go containers with toppings on the side.
Roasted or baked proteins
Sheet-pan chicken, pulled pork, or meatballs. Pair with a grain side and a vegetable.
Sides that travel well
Coleslaw, pasta salad, dinner rolls, corn, green beans, roasted potatoes, or a simple garden salad.
Dessert (optional)
Cookies, brownies, or sheet cake are always welcome — and easy to add to any container.
That’s the typical all-in ingredient cost for a main dish + two sides for 150 people — about $2.00 per person. Smart shopping (warehouse stores, in-season produce, simple proteins) can bring it lower. Need help sourcing ingredients or a budget-friendly menu? Reach out — we’re happy to help.
Pick a Friday. Feed the block.
Questions about menu planning, sourcing, or anything else before your Friday? Reach us at hopeontheblockfdl@gmail.com — we’re happy to help.