Our meetings are hybrid! Contact us for the Zoom link. Please check our website to verify the meeting location and time (we occasionally have evening meetings or meetings in other locations).
The Bedford Community Dinners are hosted by the Rotary Club of Bedford to bring people together through shared meals. Inspired by the pre-COVID community dinners once hosted by the Bedford Food Pantry, these events are about more than food—they’re about connection, kindness, and belonging.
Whether you’re looking for a night off from cooking, a chance to meet others, or simply a friendly space to be yourself, you’ll find a seat at our table.
We are delighted to start off the year with our generous sponsor Gourmet India! It's sure to be a delicious meal!
FAQs
Who can come to the Community Dinners?
Everyone is welcome! These dinners are open to the entire community. No signup or registration is required.
Do I have to pay?
No. The dinners are completely free. They are offered as a way to bring neighbors together to share a meal and build community.
When and where are the dinners held?
Community Dinners take place at:
First Church of Christ, Congregational
Upper Fellowship Hall
25 The Great Road, Bedford
Is this a religious event?
No. The dinners are not affiliated with any religion. The church generously provides space, but the event is a community effort organized by the Rotary Club of Bedford and partners.
How do I find the entrance?
Enter through the front steps to Upper Fellowship Hall. Look for the Rotary flags marking the way.
Where should I park?
Town Parking Lot: Located behind the church, accessed via Mudge Way.
On-Street Parking: Available along The Great Road in front of the church.
Do I need to bring anything?
No, just yourself, your family, or a friend! Everything is provided, including real plates, silverware, and a warm welcome.
Are the meals sit-down or take-out?
Meals are served in the hall for everyone to enjoy together. Occasionally, limited take-out may be available if there are leftovers.
Who organizes the dinners?
The dinners are hosted by the Rotary Club of Bedford in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and volunteers.
September brings us back together as a club for our meetings and the start of our calendar of events. We have our 3 meetings a month. We have Bedford Day, Trunk or Treat, Election Day collection for MCC Food Pantry, Winter Holiday Breakfast and much more. There are many opportunities to be involved, have fun, do good, and spend time with each other.
In May we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of this great club. It has done so many amazing things locally and internationally. But it is not the good we do that makes this club special. It is its members. It is all of you. We enjoy each other's company. We laugh. We play games. And we do some good along the way.
Please find ways to help keep our club vibrant and viable. Show up. Participate. Take a role in the club. Others want to see you, work with you and just spend time with you.
RYLA Opportunity for Bedford Sophomores The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (also known as RYLA) will be held from June 26-28, 2026 at Fitchburg State University with over 200 students from across Central Massachusetts. Each year, the Rotary Club of Bedford selects and sponsors a group of students with excellent potential for leadership and service for attendance.
The Hope for the Hungry meal-packing event is returning on March 21, 2026, and this year we’re excited to put a special focus on something close to our hearts: engaging young people in hands-on service. We're also excited to have a special partner in St Paul's Episcopal Church for this event!
This year’s event is intentionally designed to be youth-focused, welcoming students, Girl Scouts and Scouts, Interactors, youth groups, and families with children. Our goal is to give young packers the opportunity not only to help package thousands of meals, but also to truly understand the impact they can have in addressing food insecurity in our community.
Middlesex Community College (MCC) addresses student housing and food insecurity through its Wellness Resource Center offering two free food pantries (Bedford and Lowell campuses) with fresh, frozen, and non-perishable items. These services assist the 35–41% of students self- reporting food insecurity, providing crucial support to help students focus on academics.
Being able to meet a student’s basic needs such as food and housing often means the difference in a student’s ability to focus on their education, graduate and reach their goals. Jonathan Crockett is MCC’s Coordinator of Essential Needs and Community Resource, seeking to provide help to all of the college’s students who need it.
Despite bitterly cold weather, the Upper Fellowship Hall at First Church was nearly full on January 28 as neighbors gathered for another successful Bedford Community Dinner. Volunteers from Middlesex Savings Bank prepared and served a hearty pasta meal, offering guests a choice of baked ziti or vegetable alfredo, accompanied by garlic bread—comforting fare that warmed both bodies and spirits.
Photo left: MSB volunteer serving beverages (photos by Christine Pinney)
As summer winds down, so does our summer meeting schedule of two meetings per month. Club leaders and the Board of Directors decided that going forward this year, we will meet three times per month, with two lunch meetings at 12:30 p.m. and one evening meeting at 6:00 p.m. The plan is to alternate the schedule in a day–evening–day pattern, though exact dates and locations are still being finalized.
The change reflects the numerous projects and activities that will commence in September, including the launch of the monthly Community Dinners. With more opportunities for service and fellowship ahead, the new schedule ensures members can stay connected while also making time for hands-on volunteering and social gatherings.
We look forward to seeing everyone at an upcoming meeting!
First Church of Christ Congregational
The Hope for the Hungry meal-packing event is returning on March 21, 2026, and this year we’re excited to put a special focus on something close to our hearts: engaging young people in hands-on service. We're also excited to have a special partner in St Paul's Episcopal Church for this event!
Middlesex Community College (MCC) addresses student housing and food insecurity through its Wellness Resource Center offering two free food pantries (Bedford and Lowell campuses) with fresh, frozen, and non-perishable items. These services assist the 35–41% of students self- reporting food insecurity, providing crucial support to help students focus on academics. 
Despite bitterly cold weather, the Upper Fellowship Hall at First Church was nearly full on January 28 as neighbors gathered for another successful Bedford Community Dinner. Volunteers from Middlesex Savings Bank prepared and served a hearty pasta meal, offering guests a choice of baked ziti or vegetable alfredo, accompanied by garlic bread—comforting fare that warmed both bodies and spirits.
As summer winds down, so does our summer meeting schedule of two meetings per month. Club leaders and the Board of Directors decided that going forward this year, we will meet three times per month, with two lunch meetings at 12:30 p.m. and one evening meeting at 6:00 p.m. The plan is to alternate the schedule in a day–evening–day pattern, though exact dates and locations are still being finalized.