7 minute read
Serving From Both Sides of the Counter
The people I’ve met at Sally’s Kitchen are more of a blessing to me than I could ever be to them.
by Paula Geister
Sometime during the spring of 2003, I volunteered to join a team that came in once a month to prep and serve food at Sally’s Kitchen, The Salvation Army’s soup kitchen in Battle Creek, Michigan. The Salvation Army has a reputation for helping people through activities I believe in. People I know personally have benefited from children’s afterschool programs, emergency disaster services, and food baskets at Christmas and Thanksgiving.
The Kitchen Help Paula Geister (right) with one of seven “Love Thy Neighbor Food Pantry” teams that serve at Sally’s Kitchen
The people who come to Sally’s work, don’t work, live alone, have families, eat a lot or eat just a little. Being able to get one hot meal in 24 hours has been the case for some. Others come in because they’re trying to stretch their grocery money.
I saw right away from behind the counter that the kitchen has its “regulars.” They’re all different, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know many of them over the years. But that started by simply asking someone his or her name.
Special Apron Paula’s teammate created a made-to-order apron that not only helps her stay clean while prepping and serving food, but showcases the Autism Awareness official artwork
Alan Not everyone who comes to Sally’s wants conversation. But there was Alan. I sat across from him one day during my break and we engaged in some small talk.
“Sure was nice to get all that rain,” I said. “The farmers needed it.”
“I don’t like the rain,” Alan countered. “We have to find shelter inside and sometimes we get kicked out, even if it’s a vacant building.”
Alan went on to tell me other difficulties he and some friends had finding a home when they had none. He got choked up telling me about a friend who’d died alone in one of those vacant buildings. Up until then, I’d been sympathetic to the problem of homelessness, but Alan made it real to me. Val Not everyone has a sad story about why they come to eat. Sometimes they sit with friends to gab and catch up on each other’s lives. People like Val are fun to be with. She works as a home health aide and likes cookies. Whenever we serve cookies, Val asks, without fail, for two.
I tell her, without fail, “Everyone gets one cookie.”
She grumbles, albeit with a smile, then I see her in the dining room with a stack of cookies on her tray. Her friends come through. That’s something else I love about the kitchen—the fellowship.
But people come and go. We lose track of some. Others we know will be there again tomorrow.
I can talk about them like this
because I’m now a regular!
Circumstances kept me away from the dining room for about a week and when the dishwasher asked about my absence, he said, “We haven’t seen you in a while. I wondered if you’re OK.”
I can’t tell you how much I felt cared for in that moment.
Loving Her Neighbour Folks at Sally’s are like family. When we haven’t seen a Sally’s regular for a while, we try to find out if they’re OK. Usually, they’re fine, but it’s always nice to know. Some ask, “How are you?” and really mean it. We take care of one another. We’re a special community.
God led me to serve at the kitchen and now I have a passion for it. I’m grateful for opportunities to learn to be more flexible, to chill out, to learn teamwork, to realize that my way isn’t the only way.
However, I think the best thing God did for me as I’ve served over the years is teach me how to better love my neighbour. That’s one of the best lessons anyone can learn. I’ve learned to love them no matter their situation and regardless of their skin colour, age, level of education or anything else by which I might have judged them before I started volunteering at The Salvation Army.
God is still teaching me and I’m grateful for that. Whichever side of the counter I’m on, I want to keep learning. And loving.
(left) Paula Geister serves her church by writing small group studies based on the weekly sermons. She’s also a grandmother and “mom” to two pets, Scout the rabbit and Rennie the gecko.
Eating Humble Pies
When Jill Boville decided to help people affected by COVID-19, the baker never expected her actions to ripple out into the community.
by Ken Ramstead
Like so many, Jill Boville, owner of Jill’s Humble Pies in Oshawa, Ont., found her life grinding to a halt earlier this year because of COVID-19. But rather than lament over the state of the world, the baker and piano teacher decided to do something to make the world—or at least her little part of it—a better place.
Fair Is Fair “I started hearing from people who were struggling,” she says. “I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. That’s not how God created us to be. We’re supposed to treat others with compassion. We’re not here to judge; we’re here to love.”
So in March, Jill starting asking people through her Jill’s Humble Pies Facebook page—as well as family, friends and acquaintances— if they could donate food items.
The response surprised even her.
“The outpouring was incredible,” she says. “More than 1,800 items of food were donated.”
Now, the question was how to dis-
No Pie in the Sky Baker extraordinaire Jill Boville is serious about making a difference during COVID-19
tribute the food—much of it baked goods cooked by Jill herself—to those who needed it the most.
Jill naturally thought of The Salvation Army.
“I was born and bred there,” she says, “so it’s a big part of my life. I attend Oshawa Temple and I have a lot of friends that belong to the Army.”
Jill brought all the donated items to Oshawa Temple’s food bank.
So much was donated that Jill was able to bring food items to The Salvation Army’s food banks in Whitby, Ont., and Bowmanville, Ont., as well.
“I wanted to be fair,” she smiles.
Chalking Up Success Encouraged, Jill started collecting for seniors in Salvation Army and other long-term care facilities.
“We knew many families couldn’t get in to give their loved ones shampoo, soap, toothbrushes and so on,” Jill explains. “We assembled more than a hundred care packs and delivered them to some of the homes.”
Not content with that, Jill started preparing personal hygiene bags— consisting of face cloths, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and lip balm—for those suffering from homelessness, which she sent to Leigh Rowney, director of The Salvation Army’s community and family services in Oshawa.
“We assembled 80 bags and they all went that first night,” Jill smiles.
Jill also prepared kids’ packs for those who go to the food banks with their parents or live on the streets.
“They need some encouragement, so we set up packs for all different ages with colouring books, crayons and sidewalk chalk.”
What Can I Do Today? Jill was doing this out of the goodness of her heart. However, she never imagined that her actions would ripple out into the community.
People from all over Ontario have contacted her to inquire how they can participate.
They started telling Jill, “I’ve never felt so good before, being able to help people.” Others asked her, “What else can we do?”
“The encouragement I am getting from them is a constant, but the encouragement that they’re all receiving from giving and being part of something greater is just spectacular,” Jill says. “This one person, in particular, told me, ‘You’ve given me a new lease on life. I’m excited to wake up each morning and think, What can I do today for somebody?’ ”
Jill replied, “That’s just great! You can give a bar of soap or you could give a hundred bars of soap, and you’re still giving the same kind of blessing.”
“The church doors may be closed or partially closed,” Jill concludes, “but this is as much church to me as anything. This is what church should be.”
