June 21st was our second month volunteering at the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition. Three of our staff members volunteered the previous month, and it was five of our staff member’s first time volunteering.
It was a particularly hot evening, and a lot of the clients were lined up under the shade of a few trees waiting for the dining room to open at 5:00 p.m. Upon our arrival the chef met with us and gave instructions for the evening. We helped roll silverware, and then divided up into two “teams”: half of our volunteers plated the food, and the other half of our group served the clients.
Once five o’clock rolled around, the doors to the dining room opened and the clients checked in with a Homeless Coalition representative. They then helped themselves to a beverage, picked up a tray and had a seat in the dining room. The volunteer “servers” first served any children, and then made their way through the room serving the clients.
The trays serve as a way to see who has received their meal, and who has not. The menu consisted of Sloppy Joe’s over rice, home fries, green beans and a slice of bread. The chef told us that by Friday the Coalition runs low on lettuce and fresh vegetables for salads, and he must be creative for the menu on Saturday and Sunday nights.
We really feel that it is a nice touch that the Coalition allows the clients to be seated and served dinner, rather than serving themselves. Most of the clients are on their feet all day and this gives them a chance to be waited on in the cool air conditioning. We look forward to volunteering again next month!
More information regarding the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition can be found at www.cchomelesscoalition.org