GREENFIELD — It’s a celebration of the bounty of the county, and this year, the county provided a bountiful feast for the 19th annual Harvest Supper hosted by Stone Soup Café.

The Greenfield-based non-profit was created to cross barriers like socio-economic status, race, ability, and age and bring people together for a free community meal, which is just what happened Saturday on Court Square in front of Greenfield City Hall.

“We’re a pay-as-you-can cafe started by a couple of peace activists,” said volunteer Linda Zukowski.

The organization hosts weekly community meals that serve an average of 600 people and serves even more at its annual Harvest Supper, which feeds as many as 1,000 people in just three hours, Zukowski said.

Zukowski has only been volunteering with Stone Soup since this past winter but said it’s a great group of people with a wonderful mission.

A group of more than 200 volunteers, including 140 new volunteers, have been busy chopping, stirring, sauteing, and more since Wednesday in order to provide a thorough menu that included supper favorites such as the turkey peach salad, roast pork, and mushroom quiche.

Stone Soup Café Board President Whitney Robbins has been involved with the café for eight years and said it was the incredible flavors that brought her back year after year.

“The flavors of the food and the opportunity to meet new people is what makes it special,” Robbins said.

Robbins said the café’s mission of creating a community space to nourish the body, mind, and spirit means she gets to meet people from all backgrounds and walks of life over a great meal.

The meal is made possible through donations. Over 24 farms donated produce to the café, and additional food producers and community partners filled in the gaps.

“This meal is made possible by the generosity of our farmers,” said Executive Director and Chef Kirsten Levitt. “This is a labor of love, and a dedication to its founder, Juanita Nelson, and the team that worked to make Juanita’s dream come true.”

Robbins said meals cost about $14 per person to produce, but on average, most people can only donate $1. The café does not charge for its meals but gladly accepts donations so that everyone has access to healthy, nourishing meals.

“We couldn’t do it without the help of neighbors,” Robbins said.

The café’s mission is about more than just food; it’s about spirit and community, which is why the Harvest Supper also included performances from several local musicians, including the Twice as Smart Choir, Sebastian Roe, Annie Hasset, Oen Kennedy, PVSO Strings for Kids, Matt Goulet, Greg Thole, and DJ Caleb Nussbaum.

“I appreciate what they do throughout the year and I want to support them how I can,” said Gloria Matlock, founder and director of the after-school tutoring program Twice As Smart.

The event also inspired others, including attendees, to join the event.

Diane Norman said it was her first time coming to the supper, but she was inspired by the group and its mission and may just volunteer next year. She added that she and her husband left another event in order to come to the supper, and was glad to be there.

This year, for the first time, the supper also served as a fundraiser for future community meals, and an art auction took place.

More than 50 pieces were donated by 35 local artists and were on display for people to view and bid on throughout the meal.

Jansyn Thaw, the café’s director of marketing and fundraising, said the auction was tied to the café’s mission of creating space for the community. Additionally, the art would add a bit more beauty to the event and raise funds to support future community meals.

Thaw said if all went well, the auction would return next year.

For more information about Stone Soup Café, their weekly community meals, or the art auction which closes bidding at 7 p.m. on Monday, visit thestonesoupcafe.org

Madison Schofield can be reached at 413-930-4579 or at mschofield@recorder.com.