When Renton’s Kimm Baxter heard about the Community Supper, she thought it was about time.

Although she has a home, money is tight for her family of four. She works at the food bank and her husband is unemployed, she said.

Monday night the church-organized supper served its first meal to a handful of curious visitors. Unlike the soup-kitchen stereotype, it’s open to more than the homeless but also hungry families in a pinch.

“We’re really thankful that they’re doing this,” said Revelation Fagota, who came down from the homeless encampment in Skyway for the chicken dinner. “We’re going to spread the word.”

The supper provides a hot meal and a safe place to eat it. It also gives the homeless a greater sense of dignity, said Pastor Russ Larson of Fairwood Church.

“It reminds us of home,” Fagota said.

The dining hall is equipped to feed about 100, but only about 10 people showed up for the first dinner.

“We know once the word gets out, we’ll be full,” Larson said.

Monday wasn’t heavily advertised for fear of being rushed, said Captain Terry Masango of the Salvation Army. “I thought it went well, except for the numbers. I wanted a few more people.”

The supper is served three days a week – Monday, Wednesday, Friday – out of the Salvation Army Church from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Visitors don’t have to register or listen to a sermon. It’s anonymous.

“No one asks you questions. You just show up and have a meal,” said cook Lynn Bartlett. “The whole idea is to feed people.”

Masango did make a point to lead the room in a prayer before the new patrons had eaten too much of their meal.

Visitors chatted with volunteers over corn on the cob and brownies. By the end of the meal a sense of community started to form and connect.

Supper organizers are primarily reaching out to the Renton Rotary Food Bank patrons, Masango said. “People know us now. They trust us and they rely on us, because they know our food is good stuff.”

A part-time cook was hired with donations, and most of the food is gleaned from local grocery stores along with the food bank.

The group is still asking for donations, including gardeners that may have grown more than they can eat.

Larson hopes secular community groups, like the Eagles, Kiwanis and Lions, would get involved, he said.

Speaking to the group of volunteers he reminded them, “We’re not necessarily here preaching or nothing.”

The supper came together after about 12 churches agreed to give money and volunteers.

“I think for me the miracle behind all this is how the community has come together, and set aside their theological differences, and said let’s come together to feed those who are hungry,” Masango said. “The partnerships have impressed us.”