Beginning Days in the Soup Kitchen

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Trinity Episcopal Church
44 East Market St.
Bethlehem PA 18018-5989
610-867-4741

A Day in the Life
of a Soup Kitchen Voluneer
at Trinity Church
by Dolores M. Jones, July 2001

(Note from Liz: "Each day has its own way." This article is about Mondays, traditionally the day of the week when Trinity people volunteer. Other days, other people, many from other churches.)

A day in the kitchen starts at 8:00 am, when Bill, our cook, and Liz Miller, the Soup Kitchen Coordinator, get together and plan the meal for the day.

My day to do volunteer work is Monday. I usually get there around 9:15 to 9:30. Some volunteers in our group go to various stores that contribute fresh vegetables, fruits, desserts, bread, etc. Whatever food we do not use we put on a table, and our guests can help themselves-but they must share the food with other people.

We volunteers all have our chores to do; and when caught up with our duties, we help each other. We all work well together and we talk and laugh and are happy doing what we do and enjoy serving our wonderful guests.

Usually ten to twelve people work together on a Monday and we prepare the meal with care and love.

Also young people attending college will work with us older people and give their free time. What a great gift they are with their enthusiasm and love for people, and I enjoy working with them.

We serve the delicious meal between 12:00 and 1:00. The guests start arriving at 11:30, and they form a line in the Parish Hall and talk to each other until 12:00-at which time a short prayer is said, perhaps by Father Nick or Peter, a volunteer who does a great job.

We than start serving the meal. I am the first one they see, as I work at the front counter. Usually three people put the cooked food on the plates; other people get the trays ready with a napkin and dessert; and we put everything on the tray. It is like a production line and we all work together very efficiently. I then take each of the filled trays, filled with an appetizing meal, and gently put it on the counter with a big smile and tell the person to help themselves to the colorful fresh salads and gorgeous colorful fruits and they help themselves to milk, several juices, coffee. They then take the trays to their table and sit with their friends. The tables have colorful tablecloths, sometimes real plants or something pretty that relates to the season we are in.

For second helpings, they must wait until 12:30, as we try to serve as many people a first portion as possible. After 12:30, they may have another platter.

The Soup Kitchen is open to the homeless or people on a limited income--recovering drug or alcohol addicts, disabled people, those who receive a limited amount of money from Social Security, and those whose income is limited due to part-time work, downsizing in industry, or who are unemployable.

The guests come from all walks of life and most are dressed clean and neatly; they are polite and respectful to us volunteer workers.

They have low self-esteem; some are embarrassed and hold their heads down and will not make eye contact; but after a while their heads come up and we have eye contact; and I get a big smile.

I know the first day I started volunteering there, many years ago, I was apprehensive; but knew I would respect and get to love them as my friends. This did occur, and it is a wonderful feeling after our guests finish eating, they put their trays in a stack and when they leave the Parish Hall, will say "God bless you" for the wonderful food and give a big smile. They are beautiful words to hear.

Trinity Episcopal Church
44 East Market St.
Bethlehem PA 18018-5989
610-867-4741