We hung up our coats and put our purses in a closet, donned hair nets and plastic aprons, washed our hands, and put on gloves. It was time to sign in as volunteers for Martha's Table.
Yes, this is the same Martha's Table where Michelle Obama served back in November. We learned how families received special letters which indicated there would be a "surprise visitor" and how they were initially annoyed with the traffic congestion; and we heard how the photographers and news media covered the event. We learned how Michelle's mother was "totally focused" on serving others, and that the children of Martha's were greatly surprised and honored by the FIRST LADY coming to their neighborhood.
Our job was to peel vegetables (loads of sweet potatoes) and to cut the potatoes into small chunks for the enormous pot of soup that was already bubbling in the kitchen. It was, for this if-it-can't be-microwaved-I don't-cook-it nurse, a rather Herculean task. Others of our group wrapped desserts and salads ~ equally a mountain of work ~ since there were literally boxes and boxes of desserts and salad to prepare.
The kitchen smelled heavenly and welcoming as the soup bubbled in the kitchen. Martha's Table feeds persons who are homeless by taking meals to the people. Sandwiches and bread are provided only on weekends from 12-1pm, and lunch is available at Sacred Heart Church from 11-noon. McKenna's Wagon serves sandwiches, soups, and desserts seven days a week at various locations around DC. Groceries are provided once a month at Martha's Table, and the Food Pantry is open the last Thursday of every month at noon at Martha's Table, except in November and December when the Food Pantry opens the second to last Thursday of the month.
This was one of our first experiences as volunteers together, and for me, it was just astonishing how big the need is! However, as I poured pans of peeled potatoes into that enormous bubbling pot, I was reminded of the writing of Virginia Satir and her notion of that big kitchen pot filled with stew as a metaphor for a family's level of worth or esteem. "How full is your pot?", she might ask.
That it was overflowing would speak volumes for the family.
Starting out on Day One, I would say the DC pot is pretty full ~ though there are obviously many unmet needs~ there are also many truly superb programs designed to help persons who are homeless find a warm cup of soup on a rainy day.
This is a shout-out to Martha's Table!
Yes, this is the same Martha's Table where Michelle Obama served back in November. We learned how families received special letters which indicated there would be a "surprise visitor" and how they were initially annoyed with the traffic congestion; and we heard how the photographers and news media covered the event. We learned how Michelle's mother was "totally focused" on serving others, and that the children of Martha's were greatly surprised and honored by the FIRST LADY coming to their neighborhood.
Our job was to peel vegetables (loads of sweet potatoes) and to cut the potatoes into small chunks for the enormous pot of soup that was already bubbling in the kitchen. It was, for this if-it-can't be-microwaved-I don't-cook-it nurse, a rather Herculean task. Others of our group wrapped desserts and salads ~ equally a mountain of work ~ since there were literally boxes and boxes of desserts and salad to prepare.
The kitchen smelled heavenly and welcoming as the soup bubbled in the kitchen. Martha's Table feeds persons who are homeless by taking meals to the people. Sandwiches and bread are provided only on weekends from 12-1pm, and lunch is available at Sacred Heart Church from 11-noon. McKenna's Wagon serves sandwiches, soups, and desserts seven days a week at various locations around DC. Groceries are provided once a month at Martha's Table, and the Food Pantry is open the last Thursday of every month at noon at Martha's Table, except in November and December when the Food Pantry opens the second to last Thursday of the month.
This was one of our first experiences as volunteers together, and for me, it was just astonishing how big the need is! However, as I poured pans of peeled potatoes into that enormous bubbling pot, I was reminded of the writing of Virginia Satir and her notion of that big kitchen pot filled with stew as a metaphor for a family's level of worth or esteem. "How full is your pot?", she might ask.
That it was overflowing would speak volumes for the family.
Starting out on Day One, I would say the DC pot is pretty full ~ though there are obviously many unmet needs~ there are also many truly superb programs designed to help persons who are homeless find a warm cup of soup on a rainy day.
This is a shout-out to Martha's Table!
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