Brunilda Santiago didn’t know many of her neighbors until she read the flyer about a dinner being served in her building two years ago.

“Let me go down here and see what this is about," Santiago said. “I usually keep to myself."

Lynda Pizarro had doubts about the public invite at their senior citizen building in Hoboken. Politics had to be behind it, she thought, but Pizzaro decided to go anyway to the community room at Monroe Gardens, a Hoboken Housing Authority property.

Curiosity for one and skepticism for the other led to a pleasant surprise for both ladies. They made new friends, not just in their building, but with residents in the neighborhood.

“You can see the sincerity," said Pizarro. “I knew it was something different."

The meals are prepared and served by residents, who look forward to the monthly fellowship. All are welcome. No one is turned away from the family-style gathering that emerged from a tragedy January 2017.

Yvonne Acevedo, left, and her 2 year old grandson, Evan Acevedo. (Barry Carter | NJ Advance Media )Barry Carter | NJ Advance Media

An 18-year-old man was shot and killed, the first homicide Hoboken had since 2013. Residents were nervous. Police and public housing officials held a town hall meeting to answer questions.

John Milius, a Hoboken resident, said his good friend, Julia Cruz, also from the city, saw the meeting as an opportunity to bring residents together and develop a sense of community.

“What better way to do that than over a meal," Milius said.

It was that simple, Milius said, when Cruz and several other ladies started the affair, which is no different than having someone over to your house.

Family time – that’s what it feels like - has been consistent. The dinners, every second Monday of each month, have been held since February 2017.

Cruz relocated but Milius and Grant Sahag picked up the fork, so to speak, to keep the camaraderie going.

“We were kind of feeling it on our heart," Milius said.

Sharing a plate of food around a table has blossomed into a jovial neighborly union that includes community stakeholders. The police department has been there from the beginning with officers – on their own time - bringing and serving food with captains and sergeants.

“I wanted to get as many officers involved as possible," Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante said. “It has made for a closer relationship with the community."

Last Monday was the third time for officer Jalen Williams, who said it gives the people a chance to see police offices as regular people.

The fire department has chipped in, and the idea has spread to Hoboken High School. The dinners at Monroe Gardens are always well attended, packed with as many as 100 people. On Monday, the rain kept some people away, but the die-hards were there, laughing and joking with another.

“Watch this," said Christine Riepel.

She humorously told her buddy, Arlette Braxton, that she made a dish for the dinner.

Braxton cut her eyes at Riepel, as if to say, “yeah right.”

“You’re lucky if she can boil water," Braxton said.

Riepel stays in her lane serving food from the line of tin trays teaming with turkey, stuffing, sausage, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, rice and beans and salad. A desert table was just as enticing.

“I love doing this," Riepel said.

The laughs continue at a table with Sharon Jacoby who points to her friend, Rose Anderson.

“That’s Lois Lane," said Jacoby, referring to the fictional Daily Planet reporter in DC Comics.

“I know everything," Anderson said.

The room was filled with conversation, warm greetings, hugs and smiles. Milius gave a fist bump to 2-year-old Evan Acevedo, who enjoyed the food sitting with his grandmother, Yvonne Acevedo. His cheeks were covered in tomato sauce from a plate of ziti that he tried to feed to Elmo.

Santiago said she comes most of the time, bringing a dish to share. This time it was rice and beans. They must taste good.

“So they say," she said.

She invited her sister, Jenny Santiago, of North Bergen, who said she’s been a regular for over a year.

“I talk to the people," she said. “We see new faces. It’s fun."

If anything, it’s a community living room. So, pull up a chair. Stay awhile. You’re home.

Hoboken police officer Jalen Williams waits in line at the community dinner that was started in the city to bring residents together. (Barry Carter | NJ Advance Media )Barry Carter | NJ Advance Media

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Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip?Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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