136 in 60
136 in 60 : Adventures in Volunteering
10 May 2008 A.D.
It was either get splashed with toxic H2O from the Chicago River (for the River Clean Up Day), or help the feed the hungry. . . those were the two options in my chronologue.
I chose to join What's Cookin' Chicago with their volunteer efforts to help at the Good News Community Kitchen near Howard St (north of Rogers Park). This place is the only kitchen that serves free dinner for 365 days/year in all of Chicagoland . The kitchen serves dinner for exactly one hour, 5PM -6PM every day.
I never expected that we would actually do the cooking, the Kitchen have volunteer and in-house chefs. We helped out with the grunt work in the kitchen (basic food prep, opening cans, etc.), helped set up the tables, and helped serve the food to individual diners. When the diners first come in, they are given a numbered ticket. Someone calls out the ticket numbers in batches, the diners raises their hands and we bring trays of food to them. Almost all of the diners are what society would politely call "poor", "downtrodden" or "unfortunate". Less polite terms would be "bums", "druggies", "homeless", "crazies", "illegals".
A number of adults were well dressed and well groomed. The children were all neatly dressed and somehow happy to be there. Everyone was well behaved. They all know the drill -- you cause any trouble or noise, you don't eat.
Food served that date (as I recall):
shepherd's pie, pasta and tomato sauce (goulash?), green salad with dressing, canned corn, bread, pineapple-fruit cocktail, and cookies, drinks (milk, coffee, water)
We fed 136 men, women and children, of all ages and races in 60 minutes on that date. On some days they get 160 . I was told, the Salvation Army's kitchen feeds more than 600 persons in a day.
Insights and notes:
10 May 2008 A.D.
It was either get splashed with toxic H2O from the Chicago River (for the River Clean Up Day), or help the feed the hungry. . . those were the two options in my chronologue.
I chose to join What's Cookin' Chicago with their volunteer efforts to help at the Good News Community Kitchen near Howard St (north of Rogers Park). This place is the only kitchen that serves free dinner for 365 days/year in all of Chicagoland . The kitchen serves dinner for exactly one hour, 5PM -6PM every day.
I never expected that we would actually do the cooking, the Kitchen have volunteer and in-house chefs. We helped out with the grunt work in the kitchen (basic food prep, opening cans, etc.), helped set up the tables, and helped serve the food to individual diners. When the diners first come in, they are given a numbered ticket. Someone calls out the ticket numbers in batches, the diners raises their hands and we bring trays of food to them. Almost all of the diners are what society would politely call "poor", "downtrodden" or "unfortunate". Less polite terms would be "bums", "druggies", "homeless", "crazies", "illegals".
A number of adults were well dressed and well groomed. The children were all neatly dressed and somehow happy to be there. Everyone was well behaved. They all know the drill -- you cause any trouble or noise, you don't eat.
Food served that date (as I recall):
shepherd's pie, pasta and tomato sauce (goulash?), green salad with dressing, canned corn, bread, pineapple-fruit cocktail, and cookies, drinks (milk, coffee, water)
We fed 136 men, women and children, of all ages and races in 60 minutes on that date. On some days they get 160 . I was told, the Salvation Army's kitchen feeds more than 600 persons in a day.
Insights and notes:
- It feels good to be able to do this again (volunteer/help out in a kitchen) after several years gap.
- My fellow volunteers (for this day, I was the only male in the bunch) were generous, hardworking and a joyous gaggle of ladies. This was a first for half of them.
- It is always disheartening to see lots of children at these kitchens.
- That was damn excellent shepherd's pie.
- I couldn't get a fellow volunteer (who was calling out the numbers and announcements) to sing a song. . . hmmm, "Karaoke at the Community Kitchen". Catchy. Hey, it could happen.
- If ever I get laid off or get lost in the time stream, it is good to know I could get a free meal someplace.