NAAAP Boston members volunteered at the Community Servings kitchen in Jamaica Plain Saturday, August 14, 2010. Nine NAAAP Boston members spent their Saturday morning and early afternoon doing food preparation, food packaging, and miscellaneous kitchen duties, working hand in hand with the regular kitchen staff and volunteers, under the supervision of the Great Chef.
Community Servings is non-profit group, dedicated to providing free home-delivered meals throughout Eastern Massachusetts to people homebound with HIV/AIDS and other acute life-threatening illnesses, whom are unable to shop or cook for themselves. The group provides their clients, their dependent families, and caregivers appealing, nutritious meals, reaching out to those in greatest need. The goals are to help the clients maintain their health and dignity, preserve the integrity of their families, provide nutritionally and culturally appropriate meals, and send the message that someone cares. (www.servings.org/about/mission.cfm)
The volunteers arrived at the kitchen mid-morning, upon which after brief registration, they were given a quick introduction to the day's activities and basic kitchen guidelines. The volunteers then split into different subgroups, each doing a set task based on what's in the kitchen master meal preparation schedule.
The group took a break for lunch at noon, upon which the entire kitchen staff, NAAAP members, and regular volunteers ate freshly made fellow volunteers prepared lunch at the main dining room. During lunch, the group went around the room, each individual introducing him/herself, the impression on the volunteering so far, and personal motivation for volunteering. It was an enlightening opportunity to learn more about each team members, all coming from different backgrounds and perspectives, and all volunteering and helping out for different reasons. Following the introductions, the Great Chef and a staff member spent a few minutes explaining the Community Servings, their main missions and priorities, and some of their signature fundraising events.
Following lunch, the volunteers split into different subgroups, alternating kitchen tasks, and worked a little bit more, finishing the planned tasks for the day.
Overall, the NAAAP volunteers had a great time preparing the meals, while enjoying each other and the kitchen staff's company. It was always a positive feeling preparing meals and helping out the terminally ill clients and their families, but through the sense of togetherness, safe, friendly, and welcoming atmosphere prevalent in Community Servings, each volunteers and staff really help themselves. It was this sense of family and togetherness that keep volunteers coming back.
The Community Servings is a primarily volunteers run organization, and it cannot complete its mission without the help of the volunteers, donating their time and energy in a consistent basis. The NAAAP Boston volunteers were of great help, and their effort and commitment were greatly appreciated by the Community Servings kitchen staff and regular volunteers. Each NAAAP members were extended a personal open invitation from the Great Chef himself to come back and volunteer at the kitchen.
