Last Meal of the Year!

Written by Eunjeh Sung

Happy New Year everyone!

We finished off our last meal of 2022 on Saturday, December 31st. Although it was a slow and cloudy day, it was nice to see everyone come with excitement and joy.

We had less people come in than usual, but that didn’t stop us from working hard! The pantry was busy giving out fresh vegetables and fruits along with quick meals. We even had some sushi to give out! Many enjoyed the baked breads donated by the local bakery and the seasonal fruits.

To start off the meal, we shared a passage from the bible and recited the Lord’s Prayer. This was followed by a short prayer by one of the volunteers. Warm clam chowder was served as the soup appetizer. I’m guessing it tasted very good because people came for seconds and thirds and even took some with them after the meal was done. The meal consisted of spaghetti, chicken wings, ham, cod, and salad. They all looked very tasty. Everyone seemed to have a good meal, chatting with others and sending each other New Years blessings. And of course we cannot forget the deserts! There were many pumpkin pies served along with cookies and some chocolate cake. YUM!

With the number of volunteers, we were able to get the cleaning done fairly quick. The tables and chairs were wiped and put back, salt and pepper shakers were collected, dishes were washed, and mops were mopping. It was great to see many smiles and so much laughter throughout this entire process. I truly wish everyone a very Happy New Year and thank you to everyone who came out that day to serve others and build a stronger community!