As I live and work here at St. Anne’s, I am beginning to understand the depth of commitment of both the parish and the local community to those most in need. There are many areas to reflect upon and we’ll do that in the weeks ahead.
One example of this depth is the parish’s commitment and support of the Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen which began in 1988 (?). The Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen is open every Saturday morning but the volunteer efforts require activity throughout the week (from wash up kits on Wednesdays, to food pick ups from local businesses throughout the week to numerous letters and requests for help and support that must be written. (In our local community, it’s often referred to as the “Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang”.) Admittedly, I don’t know as much about the “behind-the-scenes” work as I hope I will one day. The experience of Saturday mornings is one to emulate in our own communities.
The work begins usually around 7:30 A.M. as volunteers come to set up the space. The Parish of St. Anne’s provides the space for the work of the Soup Kitchen and has doneso for a number of years. Even when things in the parish have had to move, a place was always held for Hospitality Too. Presently, the soup kitchen operates out of the Church basement (where there is Air Conditioning!).
Around 8:00 A.M. , donations are sorted, bags prepared and the basement is set up to become a “sandwich factory” of sorts as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are made for the homeless and organizations that work with them in the local communities. After the set up is complete, around 9:00 A.M., the day begins with prayer led by a member of the community. Then, the first part of the day begins as thousands (literally) of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are made, packaged, boxed and either stored, picked up by or dropped off to local homeless advocacy groups.
After sandwiches are completed, prayers of thanksgiving are offered and the work of the meal gets underway. An unbelievably dedicated crew of regular volunteers makes all of this work, yet they are welcoming of the many new people chipping in (like me!) and getting involved. Bags of bread are prepared, take home meals are organized for each guest, tables are set (with flowers on each one) and the doors opened for the many guests who will come.
Lunch begins promptly at 11 A.M. with a prayer of blessing. A long “soup line”, if you will, forms and nearly two hundred people (the number varies each week) join the community for lunch. Special assistance is given to the elderly, those with children and those who struggle to handle lunch on their in any way. It’s clear a sense of community forms between the guests themselves and those here to serve them each week. What an experience!
After lunch, and only after everyone has been served and is finished, clean up begins in earnest. Never the most exciting part of the meal, it’s done relatively quickly as everyone chips in to get things together.
I have had the privilege of volunteering here before and never fail to leave encouraged and inspired to keep going. The spirit of those who operate the Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen, the commitment of the volunteers, the gratitude of the guests and the presence of so much “faith in action” cannot help but inspire all of us to keep on going! There aren't too many experiences more formation than this one.
(To learn more about the work of the Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen, you can join their group entitled, “The Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang” on Facebook. The pictures here are from that site and they are scarce as great sensitivity to confidentiality of the guests who come here. )
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