homeless shelter food
Has anyone volunteered in a homeless shelter? What is the food like? Is it prison grade food?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
15 Comments:
I worked at a shelter a couple of weeks ago, and all of their food is donated by markets and grocery stores and such from the night before. There was lots of fruit, cookies and sweets, and the staff made soup, beans and rice, veggies and a few other things. No five star restaurant, but not too bad. Any food that has gone bad is thrown out.
Laurel E at 5:59PM on 10/16/08
@ fischersentropy, the best way to find out is to find a local shelter or kitchen and volunteer for a day.
The food served really depends on where the food comes from and who runs the shelter. I volunteered in a place that got its donations mostly from large foodservice companies and was run by a national organization. They had some fresh food, like the meat, but most of the vegetable and starch was canned or frozen or pre-packaged.
Lots of organizations have strict rules on what can be accepted as donations because of food safety rules, so they can't take a catering company's leftover (though unused) food, and some shelters can only take prepared food, but not raw ingredients. I'm not trying to criticize at all - I'm glad there are people willing to help in any capacity.
butterface at 6:19PM on 10/16/08
Of course not! Food is provided by many sources, some of them private home kitchens. My bro used to serve at a homeless shelter every T-Giving. I had too much food responsibility so I'd donate food. I used to do an extra turkey, stuffing, usually an apple crisp (easy to serve as much or as little as someone wants) and collard greens.
The rules have been somewhat relaxed as I think authorities figured out how much food was going to waste needlessly. In the past, food from home kitchens was not accepted but in many cases this has changed.
therealchiffonade at 7:22PM on 10/16/08
I've volunteered for two shelters and both of them had decent food. My temple is part of a program that houses the homeless during the colder months. This program allows for home cooked meals so we usually make something that is easy to do in bulk like meatloaf with potatoes or lasgana. Once everyone has had all the food they want we will usually eat what's left over since the clientele aren't allowed to horde food in case that causes fighting.
missjess at 9:03PM on 10/16/08
My parents volunteered regularly to a soup kitchen until my dad got sick. My dad, 74 years old and cooking for the homeless. He cooked food he would normally serve his family,( when we were still around); chili, spaghetti with meat sauce; chicken soup....My dad collected bread from local grocery stores, ie, Shoprite, Pathmark, Panera..... Most of the food collected were close to expiration. In most cases they caregivers had to make sure they weren't giving too much sugary stuff.
catbird at 9:12PM on 10/16/08
Every thanksgiving I give my free turkeys, my parents and anyone else who wants to donate theirs down to the food bank. We usually take 4 or 5. I get the biggest turkey I can find. This year you are going to hear about the homeless population rising. Times are tough out there. If you do not have time why not donate that free turkey you are getting from your grocery store points or from work to the local food bank. If you don't get a free one spent the 10 bucks and buy one. It is the responsibility of everyone to care for those less fortunate. This gives way to our usual discussion of the turkey day stragglers. Who are you going to ask over who has no place to go?
JerzeeTomato at 11:18PM on 10/16/08
Or alternativly make a note to donate items or volunteer time when it's not the holidays. In my experience shelters, foodbanks and kitchens get a lot of volunteers and donations during the thanksgiving/december holidays (one christmas i remember there were nearly as many volunteers as there were homless people) and sometimes they are left scrambling during other parts the year.
missjess at 11:40PM on 10/16/08
I usually try to buy extra all year long, we keep a plastic tote next to the front door and after grocery shopping i put in anything from the pantry from the week before and add at least 3 canned, boxed goods from that week. It gets a little hard to do sometimes, but knowing that I have a load at least once a month for the local shelter keeps me doing it. Also something alot of ppl dont think about, For xmas every year, instead of spending all kinds of money on gifts we dont need SO and i go to the army surplus store in Jan and buy up 12 backpacks, then every month we fill one, socks, gloves, toothpaste, toothbrush, combs etc, we try to keep it unisex, then at xmas time we donate those packs along with anything else we have left over. And even though I cringe at this we also include fast food gift certificates, it may not be great for them but at least its better than dumpster diving or going hungry.
huneybumper at 8:36AM on 10/17/08
I learned to cook by volunteering at a weekly meal for homeless and disadvantaged women. It was run out of a church kitchen, headed up by a 20-something culinary school drop-out. Every Thursday we'd make dinner with $15 and whatever was available in the food pantry. The food was simple, but good. Lots of soups and stews, and we always had some kind of simple desert.
marzipanda at 10:38AM on 10/17/08
What a great conversation!
@missjess: Good point about volunteering and donating the rest of the year. Last Christmas Day the homeless program that I regularly volunteered for was also over-staffed. Volunteers brought their friends to volunteer, thinking that there wouldn't be enough people. Food banks have trouble reaching their goals when it's not campaign time, campaign time being Thanksgiving - which is October in Canada - and the spring.
@huneybumper : What a great idea! When I volunteered at the homeless program I donated toiletries as well. I used to have tons of free samples that I'd collected over the years and didn't use. It's not as if I travel enough to use them for that purpose. One year I donated most of what I had. Now I try not to collect them in the first place! Travel sized items are great too, stuff bought, or collected from hotel room.
"Spring" cleaning/decluttering is a great way to find things for donating.
Regarding the original post: Where I volunteer(ed), the desserts were amazing, donated by a bakery in town with a really good reputation. For dinner there was also a vegetarian option, usually pasta, for those who specifically asked.
CanadianFoodieGirl at 10:54AM on 10/17/08
I've volunteered at a homeless shelter both during the holidays and throughout the year. I've never had prison food, so I can't compare, but if that's synonymous with bad food, I'd have to say that shelter food is pretty good. The place that I volunteer utilizes food purchased from cash donations or food donations of raw materials (canned goods, potatoes, turkeys, etc) that are prepared in the kitchen by volunteers and shelter staff.
The people residing in the shelter are very appreciative to have hot meals and are very respectful. Many seem shocked if you look them in the eye and smile. It's a basic human connection and consideration that most people don't afford them. On a humorous note, many ask what offense I committed that resulted in my doing community service. They are surprised that people volunteer and come to spend holidays with them just because it's in a person's heart to help others, not because it's compulsory. For the record, I volunteer in a purely, well, voluntary capacity. :)
holdthemayo at 12:56PM on 10/17/08
Because I run a kitchen in a non profit organization, I toured a new prison kitchen during lunch time to see how they operate. I think if we could show people what meals were like, the crime rate would go down! I'm glad to here homeless shelters are good and get such great support. You've inspired me to do better!
eatingoutwest at 3:37PM on 10/17/08
Friars run a soup kitchen twice a week here in Albuquerque, I volunteer. They serve a hot meal that includes meat (beef or chicken), potatoes, rice or pasta and vegetables, coffee, ice tea or water. Most of the ingredients are donated and cooked by the Friars and volunteers and the food is served on "real" plates with "real" utensils (no knives). They serve 75-100 meals each day and the homeless are respectful and appreciative. There have not been any incidents...we are careful to offer exactly the same food to everyone. The quality of the food is good and the kitchen is very clean.
elaine nan at 8:46PM on 10/17/08
This NPR story may interest you:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93396868
kathryn at 11:52PM on 10/18/08
Elaine nan I am not sure if you will see this, but I live in Albuquerque too and would like to know how I can find out more about volunteering at the friers soup kitchen thanks
juniemarie at 12:15PM on 11/24/08