How One Small Iowa Church is Using Hot Dogs to Help Make its Ministry Essential

Iowa Public Radio highlights the Hot Dog Friday ministry of St. James’ Episcopal Church, Independence and how it builds community there.

A community meal can bring people together. But as small towns shrink and institutions like churches contract, a meal can become vital to the life of a town. One church in northeast Iowa is changing the role it plays and the value it provides to the greater community.

Traci Petty