Volunteering
Old First had the Men’s Shelter for 38 years. In a year or so, once the new building is finished, we will have 34 formerly-homeless “permanent residents” in supportive housing.
In the meantime, Old First was concerned — we didn’t want to let go of our commitment to people who are unhomed. Or the volunteers who help us with our ministries. So we have organized a Sunday Dinner for people who are hungry. It’s more or less run on the model of our “Shelter Dinners.”
Groups get together and plan a meal for 30 people plus themselves (our volunteers are invited to stay for dinner and eat alongside the hungry men and women). The groups buy the groceries, that include condiments, drinks, desserts. The meal can be prepared in Old First’s kitchen, or it can be prepared ahead of time and brought to the church to be reheated.
Groups usually arrive about 4 pm. We let the guests in at 4:30, and we try to serve the meal, usually buffet style, by about 5 pm. The men who are guests help do all the cleanup.
While we have regular groups that prepare a meal monthly, there are also openings for groups that hope to volunteer only once. Come and join us; it’s become a lovely, communal meal with a really positive spirit.
