South Benton Resource Center Connects Community Through Shared Meals 

Inside the former United Methodist Church in Monroe, neighbors gathered around tables Wednesday, March 18, for a hot meal and conversation at the South Benton Resource Center’s monthly Community Lunch. 

The lunch, held at noon every third Wednesday of the month, is free and open to the public, with donations accepted. The center is located at 648 Orchard St. in Monroe. 

 Benton County commissioners Malone, Shepherd and Wyse attended the lunch, highlighting the importance of supporting rural communities and staying connected to the people and programs that help meet local needs. Their presence reflects a shared commitment to ensuring residents across the County have access to food, services and opportunities to connect. 

City of Monroe Mayor Dan Sheets said the lunch is a simple but powerful way to bring people together. 

“This is a great opportunity for the community to come together, have a meal and socialize,” Sheets said. “We definitely encourage folks to come here and socialize, and if you have a need, I’m certain that they can help somehow.” 

The South Benton Resource Center is a nonprofit that serves Monroe and rural South Benton County. Its mission centers on building community around a shared table while offering essential services and gathering spaces. 

Programs at the center include the South Benton Food Pantry, which provides fresh food, staples and necessities to area residents. The center also operates a commercial kitchen that hosts the monthly community lunch and a free community breakfast on the first Saturday of each month. 

Kepi Nak-Nak Café, located in the downstairs commons next to the kitchen, is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays as a place for people to gather over coffee or a meal. Heritage Hall offers space for concerts, meetings and milestone events. The Vina Moses Room provides clothing and household essentials through a local partnership. Each August, the center hosts the Blackberry Jamboree, an annual community celebration. 

Robin Frojen prepares the monthly lunch. She said the meals are about more than food. 

“I’m making the community lunch for our community of Monroe,” Frojen said. “This is just really important for our community and making sure our community has warm, healthy meals that are accessible to everybody.” 

Frojen recently retired after nearly 30 years as a chef and food scientist at Oregon State University. She said volunteering at the center allows her to continue doing what she loves while giving back. 

“It’s amazing,” she said. “I have been a chef for 30 years and a food scientist, and retired almost two years ago from the university, and I’m doing exactly what I love to be doing, and now I can actually make an impact. This community is something great, it really is.” 

For more information about the South Benton Resource Center and its programs, visit www.sbrcenter.org.