For the past five years, The Open Shelter has had the privilege of operating a meals program through our Day Services Shelter and our evening meals site at Broad Street United Methodist Church.

Of course, this would not be possible without the support of hundreds of volunteers who support this program through the 75+ churches, families, businesses and civic groups that make this program a reality.

Our Meals Program provided 53,859 “sack” lunches, 16,320 “to-go” meals and 23,198 hot meals in 2008.

We thought it would be helpful to explain in this issue of “Concrete Expressions” how this program works.

“Sack” lunches are provided to those in need each weekday through our Day Services Shelter. These lunches are prepared off-site and delivered to us by volunteer groups. Typically, they consist of a sandwich, bag of chips, fruit and/or snack and a drink- usually bottled water or a juice pouch. On a typical day, we go through between 150 – 200 “sack” lunches.

The “To-go” meals program is a unique offering designed specifically for persons “living on the land”. Bulk food donations are packaged in meal-sized portions, which these persons can carry and prepare in their camps. They can get “to-go” meals as often as they need to. This approach protects the quality of the food and minimizes waste since people “living on the land” don’t have refrigerators- but do have raccoons. In addition, marginally housed persons can access the program during the third week of the month. Canned and boxed food, meat, soups, snacks and beverages are provided. This is made possible through the generosity of our community.

Our evening meals program is held on most Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings at Broad Street United Methodist Church. On these evenings, staff and volunteers arrive at around 4pm to set up for those who will be attending the dinner. Coffee is brewed, a cold beverage is prepared, salt and pepper shakers are put on each table and a snack, typically fruit or candy/nutrition bars, are brought out.

At 4:30pm, the doors are opened for those outside to come in. All are welcome, no questions are asked. Men, women, and families from different places come to our evening meals. They come to us from other shelters, low-income housing and from “the streets”.

As they come in, everyone is given a snack and a cup for coffee or a cold beverage. Tables are set up for everyone to sit at in the church’s Fellowship Hall. At 5:15pm, the dinner group arrives.

An evening meal is prepared to feed up to 175 persons. Main courses range from Ham to Chicken to Lasagna. Side items could be a salad, vegetables or mashed potatoes. Fruits and delicious desserts along with Milk or Lemonade are also provided. The groups preparing these meals have given of their time, effort and talent to make a hearty, delicious meal to those in need.

The meal begins at 5:30pm and those in attendance are called table by table to come through to be served. Volunteers behind the serving table always mention how they are touched by the appreciation shown by those who are being served.

We are blessed to have so many who are willing to help those in need through us. Please take a moment to read a list of those groups who make our meals program possible. If you know anyone who is a member of these groups, let them know how much they are appreciated.

Thanks You!