Each Friday afternoon and evening the Front Street kitchen comes alive with preparations for the Community Meal Center. CMC began its community outreach in January 2001, and has served up to 411 meals (dine-in and carryout) any given Friday evening.
A
variety of volunteer opportunities are available for anyone wanting to be
involved, such as food preparation, dessert baking, serving food, visiting
with guests, and setup/clean up. Many of the supplies come
from Shared Harvest and similar sources, while volunteers may also supply a
portion of the meal. Generally a
salad, main course, fruit, dessert and beverage are on the menu.
Other kitchen volunteers prepare juice and coffee, set up the food line
and fill “to go” orders, and assist at the order window.
From 5:00 to 6:00 pm tables are set with utensils, salt/pepper, cream/sugar. Servers, at least four volunteers, are assigned to tables and serve the meal and take “to go” orders (5:45 to 7:30pm). From 7:30 to 8:00 pm the tables are cleared, cleaned, and put away with the chairs in the storage closet.
As guests arrive a greeter (6:00 to 7:30pm) welcomes guests, asks them to sign- in, and invites them to be seated at a dinner table. Minglers, at least four volunteers, welcome, sit with, and talk to CMC guests. They also inform guests of the resource pamphlets and groceries.
As
this ministry has grown, so have the opportunities for service.
Groceries
need to be organized. Another volunteer could coordinate
music/entertainment for the evening. A
volunteer coordinator, working at his convenience, would recruit and schedule
volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering at Community Meal Center, contact Lauren Marsh at 236-7859, e-mail (lsmarsh@health-partners.org), or write a note on the pew card on Sunday.