One night a month, dedicated volunteer teams from Lake Grove Presbyterian Church armed with good food and fun crafts arrive at Shepherd’s Door, our addiction recovery center for women and their kids.
They totally take over the kitchen – chopping, peeling and slicing delicious raw ingredients, cooking them up and then serving them to our residents. They also choose a fun craft for the kids (and moms) to do while they wait for dinner!
This past month, the team whipped up homemade mashed potatoes, fried chicken, parmesan asparagus, green salad, fruit salad, and ice cream sundaes for dessert. They also set up face painting and Play Doh for craft time!
Four different teams share the load each year, so each team only needs to commit to serving once a quarter. It’s a simple, fun way to make an impact, and what an impact it makes!
“What they do is so much more than just serve a meal,” said Holly Hummel, a staff member here at Portland Rescue Mission. “They always treat our residents as if they were entertaining their own family members in their home. The love, planning and hard work is always evident to all who partake. The kids and moms always look forward to the fun things they bring and the quality time they spend with them!”
Volunteering is fun, rewarding, and it’s so easy to sign up! Whether you have a group or it’s just you, there are dozens of ways to help out. Don’t have a group formed yet? This is a great mission to organize your friends, family or church around, whether your group helps out once a week, once a month or just once a quarter!