The first salad luncheon at Grace Lutheran Church came about because of a natural disaster. In the summer of 1977, a hard rain flooded the furnace room and knocked out both of the large boilers that provided heat for the church. The women of the church met and decided they wanted to help. They would organize a salad luncheon and invite all who wanted to come. That first event raised $650 which the women donated toward the $15,000 repair bill to get the furnaces up and running.

Thirty-two years later, the women of Grace are still hosting a salad luncheon each fall. Diners come from Albert Lea, Freeborn County and beyond to feast on the barbecued sandwiches and over 100 salads. The proceeds of current lunches support many community organizations and missions. Local charities that benefit from the salad luncheon include the Crime Victims Crisis Center, Arc Freeborn County, S.P.I.R.E., Lutheran Social Service, Christ through Hands Ministry, Good Earth Village Bible Camp, and the Lutheran Disaster Fund. Worldwide missions in Columbia, Tanzania, Latvia, and Russia are also supported through Grace’s annual salad luncheon.

This year’s salad luncheon will be held on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tri-chairwomen are Linda Lundak, Bev Field and Cindy Wayne with assistance from Julie Sorenson and Karen Oman. They all want to assure everyone that this year’s luncheon will be as good as the last 31 and maybe even better.