The food and the fig cookies will flow when area Catholic churches and organizations host St. Joseph's Altars over the next few weeks. While St. Joseph's Day is March 19, most altars will be open the weekend before. On Sunday, March 17, a St. Joseph's Altar will be open from noon to 4 p.m. at Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center, 17560 George O'Neal Road (near John Folse's White Oak Plantation). 

Free meals — lots of dishes without meat from more than 20 local restaurants — will be served along with cookies, breads and cakes, said Debi Grymes, special events director at the center. The Grandsons of Italy, which stages a St. Joseph's Altar at the Sacred Heart School gym, is pushing its celebration back a week to March 23-24.