In April of 2000, the Church of the Good Shepherd opened the doors of Wareham's only soup kitchen — Good Shepherd's Table.

Every Thursday, volunteers bustle around the church's kitchen to prepare dinners to feed Wareham's hungry.

On September 6, the volunteers served their 100,000 meal.

"It kind of crept up on us," Church of the Good Shepherd Pastor Dan Bernier said of the milestone.

Millie Funnell, who has volunteered at the soup kitchen since 2001, echoed that sentiment.

"I can't even wrap my head around that," she said. "It doesn't sound possible!"

Good Shepherd's Table relies on donations from the community. Wareham restaurants Longhorn Steak House and KFC donate food weekly, as does bakery outlet Bouyea Fassetts. Eastern Bank on Main Street keeps a barrel for nonperishable food donations, which Good Shepherd's Table coordinator Pat Probert scoops up each week.

Probert, who has run the program since 2000, says she is grateful for the help, as the church is unable to fund the soup kitchen out of its budget.

And the need in the community is great.

In addition to feeding whomever steps through the doors from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on any given Thursday, the Church of the Good Shepherd teams with the Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene, whose volunteers deliver approximately 90 meals to the Silver Lake, Starlight, Travelers Choice, and Atlantic motels — where the state places homeless individuals and families while they wait for permanent housing.

Additionally, the church's food pantry serves an average of 114 households each month — which breaks down to an average of 129 adults, 80 children, and 19 seniors.

The number of families living in the motels changes from week to week, said volunteer Alice Sequeira, but the numbers seem to be going up.

"You get more and more" people, she said.

Funnell, speaking as she cut up chunks of beef for the September 9th meal, agreed.

"It's tough to be dropped in a town where you don't know anyone," she noted, "and then have to feed your children."

Despite what might seem like a daunting task, the volunteers always have a good time.

"There's great camaraderie," said Probert. "We always have lots of food and lots of fun."

Volunteer Jim Clemmey, who also serves as Senior Warden at the church, has been volunteering at the soup kitchen for approximately a decade.

"I enjoy people, and helping people," said Clemmey, whom many visitors refer to as "Pastor Jim," because he leads the diners at the church in grace before each meal.

"People work very hard, and they come to us every week," Bernier said, appreciative of the volunteers.

And so the team at Good Shepherd's Table keeps on cooking, and looks forward to their next 100,000 meals.

"It's a need in this community," said Bernier. "And this is our way of serving that need."

Good Shepherd's Table serves meals from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Thursday at the church, located at 74 High Street in Wareham. The soup kitchen relies on donations from the community to run. Interested in helping? Contact the church at 508-295-2840.