Adam Schluter welcomed a few hundred people into his home on Memorial Day. 

Some he knew. Some he didn’t. 

No matter. 

As far as he was concerned, everyone was welcome. Everyone was a friend. 

“We just want to invite people to come together and have a good time,” Schluter said.  

About 150 people attended the first of this year’s Monday Night Dinners held at Schluter’s Coeur d’Alene home. 

Adults and kids ate, talked, listened to music, played games, laughed and, hopefully, made a friend or two. 

“Easily our biggest turnout and so many new faces,” Schluter said. 

It was the 90th Monday Night Dinner since he began hosting them about six years so. They’ll be held every other Monday through October, with the next one June 9. Come August, Monday Night Dinner will hit 100, which to Schulter is “insane to think about.” 

He remembers the first one saw 11 people sitting around a broken folding table eating burned macaroni and cheese. More came. And more. It has morphed into something greater than he envisioned. 

After he moved to Coeur d’Alene about nine years ago, the introverted Schluter had an idea. What if he opened his home so he could meet people, who in turn could connect and discover ways to support each other? 

Monday Night Dinner was soon born at 1037 N. Third St. 

"I didn't think people would come,” he said. 

But they did. 

The Memorial Day dinner was the first where they had volunteer greeters to make sure no one was alone. It was also the first one where areas were created in the front yard so people could have a quiet spot to connect.

“The only rule was that the wine had to stay at the table so strangers kept sitting together, sharing wine,” he said. “You could really see the world coming closer together.” 

While Schluter provides the entrees, usually burgers and hot dogs, attendees are asked to bring a side dish and donate $10, with proceeds going to musicians. 

Doors open at 5, with music starting at 6 and dinner at 6:15. Things wrap up around 10. 

He has landed some sponsors like Bombastic Brewing and ICCU to help cover costs, and is seeking more as the turnout for Monday Night Dinners grows. 

Schluter, a photojournalist, usually spends about $200 on food, and the musicians receive about $500. 

He has never made a penny from Monday Night Dinners and doesn’t want to, but wouldn’t mind breaking even, so donations are welcome. Some give $100. Some don’t give anything. 

Either way, Schulter never worries.

“We never want to stop letting it grow. The more that come, the more we can give to local arts,” he said. 

He emphasized Monday Night Dinner belongs to the community.

“This is not my thing. This is not Adam’s party,” he said.  

Schluter leaves a journal on a table for people to write what the dinners have meant to them. Some chronicle how the dinners helped them through breakups, losses and a feeling no one cares about them. 

 When he reads such comments, he cries.  

“We’re all here to love, be a friend,” Schluter said.  

Some visitors have started their own Monday Night Dinner. They have sprung up in Oakland, West Virginia, St. Louis, South Carolina and Southern California. 

That brings out a warm Schluter smile. 

“That’s really a big honor, to see this going around the world,” he said. “We can all bring this world closer together.” 

Schluter takes portraits of people he meets on his adventures around the world and posts them on his website, hellofromastranger.com. He is headed to Japan in September, and yes, he is planning to host a Monday Night Dinner. 

No matter he can’t speak Japanese. Makes no difference he won't know anyone. 

Smiles and hugs will say all that's necessary.

“Hopefully, just bring their culture together and then we’re going to get out of the way," Schluter said.

    Adam Schluter visits with guests during the Monday Night Dinner at his Coeur d'Alene home.