A Pownal couple spends one morning a month in Freeport preparing a meal for up to 80 people.

Pownal residents Tam Veilleux and her husband, Real Castonguay, spend one Friday morning a month doing something that not only serves the community, it also makes them feel pretty good at the same time.

For almost a year, they have been spending the first Friday of the month in the kitchen at the Freeport Community Center, preparing food for the Third Friday Free Lunch. There had been a lapse of about six months in the meals, made with Freeport Community Services food, when the person who had been cooking no longer was available. Veilleux and Castonguay stepped right in.

“It’s a fun thing to do,” Castonguay said March 20, while he and his wife prepared cranberry chicken. “At the end of the day, you walk away with a good feeling.”

Susan Mack, family services coordinator with Freeport Community Services, said she recalls getting a call from Veilleux and Castonguay, telling her they “like to volunteer and cook big meals.” That’s all Mack needed to hear.

“They were just the answer we were looking for,” Mack said. “It’s becoming pretty popular.”

Mack said that Veilleux and Castongay checked with her earlier this month, asking what was in stock at the food pantry.

“I said, ‘Chicken and cranberry sauce,’” Mack said. “So they’re doing cranberry chicken. This is a community builder – a friend builder. A lot of the Freeport Elders come, and they have lots of fun. And who can beat a nice, hot meal?”

Veilleux and Castonguay show up a little before 8 a.m., and spend the entire morning preparing the Third Friday Free Lunch, which is served at noon.

“We kind of keep up with the dishes while we’re cooking, then other people come in,” Castonguay said. “Sue does a great job of lining people up here.”

Generally, from 60-80 people show up for the free lunch. Last Friday was the second time around for cranberry chicken.

“It was the second meal we made,” Veilleux said, “and everybody loved it.” Everybody, including Castonguay.

“Tam’s a great cook and I love to eat,” he said. “This is a fun thing to do.”

Last week’s free lunch was a gathering of volunteers. Habitat for Humanity workers showed up for the cranberry chicken. Nancy Taylor, another volunteer, made the salad, as always.

“It’s kind of neat because they’re volunteering and we’re volunteering,” Veilleux said.

Castonguay is a property manager while Veilleux is a life coach – a person, who, among other things, helps people set goals. She also works part time at L.L. Bean.

“Because we’re self-employed, we have the freedom to do this,” Veilleux said.

Tam Veilleux measures ingredients to make the Third Friday Free Lunch, March 20 at the Freeport Community Center. Staff photo by Larry GrardTam Veilleux and Real Castonguay of Pownal have been cooking the Third Friday Free Lunch at the Freeport Community Center since last May. Staff photo by Larry Grard