Arlee dinner serves fresh, seasonal fare

A series of community dinners are bringing families, friends and neighbors together in Arlee.

“We’ve all been through a period of isolation recently," said Shelly Fyant, Food Sovereignty Coordinator at the Arlee Community Development Corporation. “The Arlee CDC is focusing on ways that we can gather and connect with each other again."

The community dinners, held every three months, have "become very popular,” Fyant said.

The dinners are held in conjunction with a series of cooking classes offered by the Arlee CDC. Students attend three classes taught by chef Addie Steele, then assist her in preparing a dinner with a focus on fresh, seasonal food.

“We use local ingredients and follow the Salish calendar whenever possible," Fyant said. "The dinner brings people together to share food and share traditions handed down through the generations.”

All residents of Arlee are welcome to attend the next community dinner 6-8 p.m. Monday, May 8, at the Arlee Indian Senior Center. The dinners are sponsored by the Arlee Community Development Corporation and No Child Hungry Share Our Strength.