Last Sunday, Ed and I volunteered for the Sunday Night Supper, which is at a local church for people in need. This church is in a prosperous suburb of Chicago; and yet, there is definitely a need to provide food for people who are just scraping by and perhaps are even homeless.

Our group of volunteers provided the food and servers that night. I was assigned to a drink cart with two other woman; an assignment I thought would be an easy gig. We had six tables with 8 people at each table in our section, and we offered them apple juice, coffee, water and milk. Some of them wanted just apple juice, some wanted apple juice and milk, and some wanted everything. So we were kept very busy pouring drinks! Not only that, but most of them wanted refills throughout their meal of bratwurst, German potato salad and a hot apple compote. (Someone later told me that they loved the food we served, since many of the groups bring pasta since it is easy to make, and they get tired of it!)

It seemed that the same people come most Sundays; they are friends, and save room at the table for latecomers. The meal is over by 7:00, though, so you can’t be too late!

Back at the drink cart, if we ran out of apple juice, the person whose glass I was refilling would look concerned. No need to be, however. There was plenty of apple juice back in the kitchen. It seemed to me that our guests were stocking up on calories; the food and drinks we were providing may have been the most substantial and nutritious meal they would get that week. Altogether, about 96 people came to the Sunday Supper.

On the way out, however, they all received “goody bags” of fresh vegetable and some cookies, donated by a local grocery store.

Would I volunteer to pour drinks again on another Sunday?

That would be a yes!