On Friday, November 14, 2008, I joined my colleagues to work at the Morristown Soup Kitchen. This Kitchen is located on South Street in Morristown, adjacent to the Church of the Redeemer. The purpose for the volunteering event was to create teamwork and give back to our community in support of my Company's values
The Community Soup Kitchen is more than a place to eat for the poor and needy. An Outreach Center provides services such as Social Workers, Mental Health Professionals, Substance Abuse Counselors, a nurse, Job Counselor and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
Betty Caldwell who supervises the operation has everything under control. Gifted with a booming voice, she has a “commanding” presence. She knows the guests, she knows where the milk is, and she even knows where the Styrofoam cups are stocked. The team helped make the salad, cut pastries, cooked the pasta and laid the table in preparation for the guests who would arrive in the afternoon. Soup was provided by the Madison Hotel and we did a quick “milk run” to fetch it.
Around 12:00 noon the doors opened and the poor and the homeless guests arrived. Some were cheerful and had a friendly smile for us. Some of them seemed to have seen better days and carried themselves with quiet dignity, briefly raising their heads to wish or thank us for what we were doing. Others walked with their head down, not meeting our gaze, perhaps embarrassed by their current situation. I noticed a young girl wearing a jacket that would have fit a small child. Later, I saw someone from the staff give her a gently used coat.
Initially, it was upsetting to see so many poor and helpless people. But we can only do what is within our power to help alleviate human suffering in any way we can. I felt privileged to able to do my part that day at the Soup Kitchen.
The Community Soup Kitchen is more than a place to eat for the poor and needy. An Outreach Center provides services such as Social Workers, Mental Health Professionals, Substance Abuse Counselors, a nurse, Job Counselor and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
Betty Caldwell who supervises the operation has everything under control. Gifted with a booming voice, she has a “commanding” presence. She knows the guests, she knows where the milk is, and she even knows where the Styrofoam cups are stocked. The team helped make the salad, cut pastries, cooked the pasta and laid the table in preparation for the guests who would arrive in the afternoon. Soup was provided by the Madison Hotel and we did a quick “milk run” to fetch it.
Around 12:00 noon the doors opened and the poor and the homeless guests arrived. Some were cheerful and had a friendly smile for us. Some of them seemed to have seen better days and carried themselves with quiet dignity, briefly raising their heads to wish or thank us for what we were doing. Others walked with their head down, not meeting our gaze, perhaps embarrassed by their current situation. I noticed a young girl wearing a jacket that would have fit a small child. Later, I saw someone from the staff give her a gently used coat.
Initially, it was upsetting to see so many poor and helpless people. But we can only do what is within our power to help alleviate human suffering in any way we can. I felt privileged to able to do my part that day at the Soup Kitchen.
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