Meals at Sukkot

Meals at SOOJ consist of a combination of "Fellowship Meals" (meals or snacks shared with everyone else) and individual meals (meals you prepare for your family and yourself).  The SOOJ staff has chosen this plan in order to keep things simple and keep costs down.  The following is a list of the options available:

• Fellowship Meals - The Activity Schedule lists the various meals that SOOJ will be organizing.  These meals are designed to help bring everyone together for an afternoon or evening of fellowship.  Other than the manpower needed to set up and take down the meeting hall, the Fellowship meals require the most help of any activity during the festival . . .  providing food for 500 + people is quite an undertaking.  All the Fellowship Meals are FREE, but they do require you to contribute to the "pot".

  The original SOOJ fellowship meal is the Hamburger/Ice Cream Social.  Originally envisioned by Mitchell Smith as a picnic of sorts where he took the opportunity to serve everyone by cooking over a charcoal grill all the hamburgers and hotdogs the people brought, it soon turned into a large meal where everyone's food is collected and served 'cafeteria style'.  For this meal, each family will be asked to bring only enough hamburger or hot dogs for themselves and one other person.  In addition, each family (based on the first letter of your last name) will be asked to bring various items ranging from chips to salad to deserts.  SOOJ will provide the drinks, condiments, and paper goods.  If your diet requires you to eat special foods, be sure to keep them separate from the rest.  Everyone should be careful to ensure all foods are "Biblically kosher".

  The Snacks meals are just that . . . snacks.  These meals are associated with another activity, usually the opening night message and/or the Water Pouring Rehearsal (historically held outside).  Like the Hamburger/Ice Cream Social, you will be assigned to bring various snacks and finger foods, and SOOJ will provide the drinks and paper goods.  Since these are not full meals, you may want to eat before arriving at the associated activity.

  On certain years, SOOJ will substitute a Pot Luck meal for a snack meal.  These meals give you an opportunity to empty your refrigerator or ice chest before heading home at the conclusion of the festival, as well as allowing us to get rid of leftover hamburger, hot dogs, and drinks from the other meals.  Food assignments will be announced at the festival.

  Because the lodges at the Windermere Camp have a large kitchen available for every 8 - 10 lodge rooms, we are able to have what we call Block Meals.  These are meals that 3-4 families in each "block" of lodge rooms host for others who do not have cooking facilities.  There are 7 blocks available - 4 at the Lake View Lodge, 2 at the Koehler Lodge, and 1 at the campground.  Each block will have to same menu and share in the preparation and clean up for that meal.  More details will be given at the festival.

• Senior Citizen's Luncheon - Each year, SOOJ hosts a light lunch for our seniors 60 years old and above.  Along with a nice meal, you will be enlightened and entertained by one of the festival speakers who has prepared a program just for you.  The luncheon is FREE, but you must pick up a ticket for it WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE FESTIVAL.  Seating is limited, so be sure to pick up your ticket as soon as you arrive.  Check the Activity Schedule for the date and time.

• Women's Luncheon - The women's "Hat Happening Event" is a time for the women to get together and do . . .  well, whatever women do at these things.  Tickets for this luncheon MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE.  You can purchase your tickets when you arrive at the festival. . Check the Activity Schedule for the date and time.

• Dining Hall - The cafeteria at the Windermere dining hall serves incredible meals.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is available on most days.  Be sure to check with Windermere for the dining hall schedule.  All meals must be purchased in advance from the Windermere sales office.  Though Windermere takes care to ensure the meals are Biblically clean, they do serve other foods in a different part of the serving line for the benefit of their staff.  See note below concerning Sabbath considerations.  Click Here for More Info.

• Snack Shop - Windermere has a small Snack Shop available that serves a great hamburger and french fries platter as well as other fast foods and deserts.  The snack shop is only open for lunch.  The Snack Shop takes cash only - meal tickets are not needed. See note below concerning Sabbath considerations.

• Lodge Kitchens - Each lodge has a fully stocked (cooking pans and utensils, dishes, wash clothes and towels) kitchen and dining area available for every 8 to 10 rooms.  These are available 24 hours a day (except that we use 1 kitchen/dining room at Lake View Lodge for a breakout session at various times - see Activity Schedule).  Feel free to use the one for your lodge room whenever you wish, but be sure to coordinate with the others in your room block, and of course - be respectful and courteous to the others sharing the kitchen.  Before leaving the festival, be sure to remove all food and clean all the dishes so SOOJ does not have to pay a clean up fee!

• Nearby Restaurants - Windermere is only about 10 minutes from Camdenton where you will find a number of fast food and family restaurants.  If you want to go another 10 minutes, you'll be in the town of Osage Beach, the hub of activity and dining for the Lake of the Ozarks area. 

Sabbath Considerations - the Windermere sales staff works their dining room hours around SOOJ's schedule.  We have suggested they not open the Dining Hall and Snack Shop on the annual and weekly sabbaths during the festival, but we leave that to their discretion.