Courtney helps prepare and serve meals to more than 500 homeless in an hour!

Name: Courtney
Cause name: Austin Street Centre
Cause website:  http://www.austinstreet.org/
First time volunteering with this cause? No.  I usually go 4 times a year

The Austin Street Centre has a crew come in every single night from various churches and organizations to provide food for the homeless in Dallas.  The organization not only buys the food, but you prepare it and serve it.  I go with the Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.  A friend of mine attends this church and got me involved in the Austin Street Centre.

Because of work, I do not prepare the food.  It is usually done at the church during the day of the event.  I work in the line, serving food or drinks. It is a very organized.  The workers from the shelter provide all of the serving items.  They provide the chaffing dishes, punch containers, ovens to keep the items warm (but not to be used for cooking), cups and plates.  We have served meatloaf, green beans, baked chicken, mashed potatoes…items that are easy to cook in bulk.  We also provide cookies or some form of dessert.  A lot of time the food is donated or discounted when the store or restaurant hears what you are doing with it.

The people in the shelter are so appreciative.  The staff is so organized.  They line up the women and children first, then let the men go through. I was extremely shocked as to how many mouths they feed daily.  You serve close to 500 people in 1 hour.

It would require a large group to put this event on due to the cost of feeding so many people. It is a great feeling and wonderful organization! You might be able to call and see if you could help another group.  I am sure they could always use the extra hands.

Thanks Courtney! Keep making your community a better place!

Please leave a comment below.

Courtney Couch
Austin Street Centre
http://www.austinstreet.org/
October 31, 2011
No.  I usually go 4 times a year