THE SHELTER MEAL DELIVERY MINISTRY: Lovingly Serving as God’s Hands on Earth

Over the last five years, a relationship of mutual respect and gratitude has developed between Saint Michael parishioners and the residents at the Interfaith Works Homeless Shelter. The avenue for this relationship is the Shelter Meal Delivery Ministry, which has grown and flourished despite the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the ministry began, volunteer chefs would meet at the Interfaith Works shelter and cook a meal for the residents every Monday night. Paul McCarthy helped organize the first group of volunteers over five years ago.

“The chefs were always greeted with smiles and appreciation,” Paul says. “Often the chefs would sit at the dining table and visit with the clients. A bond developed as chefs and clients got to know each other as fellow human beings.”

Due to COVID-19, volunteers were not able to go into the shelter, but the meals have continued without ever missing a week. Volunteer chefs dropped off the meals at the Saint Michael Parish parking lot and a driver delivered all of the meals each week to Interfaith Works. The method has shifted, but this act of love still touches the hearts of both the residents and the volunteers.

In fact, the weekly meals to Interfaith Works have been so successful, that we recently expanded the ministry to include preparing and delivering meals to the Plum Street Tiny Home Village in addition to Interfaith Works.

“In just two months, we’ve nearly doubled our crew of volunteer chefs,” said Kellie Patton, Steward for Community Outreach.

There are 55 volunteer chefs total, and each chef is assigned a specific night each month to prepare enough food to feed approximately 10 people. Kellie collects the prepared meals every Monday night from all of the chefs assigned to that particular rotation. This way, volunteers can provide nutritious, home-cooked meals to 90 people each week.

“As this ministry continues to grow, I’m finding that the trunk of my car is too small to hold all of the food,” says Kellie. “I need someone else to help me make the Monday night deliveries! It has been a huge blessing to be able to expand the program and include weekly meals to Plum Street Village residents.”

The Tiny Home Village opened in 2019 and since they are new, the village doesn’t have the same level of visibility and community support as some of the other programs in town that serve the homeless.

“Hot meal deliveries support a basic need for a well-rounded nutritious diet and help strengthen our relationship with the residents, building trust and loving care for one another,” Kellie says.

Like Interfaith Works, Plum Village has a communal eating area and the volunteers are hopeful that one day soon, some of them will be able to return to go into the shelters and break bread together with the residents.

Serving our local community has had a deep impact on the volunteers.

“I feel as though this ministry is a small opportunity to be God’s hands on earth and I feel so very blessed by it,” says Mary Luetkehans. “I always feel that I have received far more than I have given. It’s amazing how God’s love does that.”

Many volunteers share this opportunity to pass on their blessings with their children. It’s an opportunity to model and teach children what it looks like to live out our faith.

“My preschool-age children know that whenever we bake treats, we share most of what we make with others,” says Carrie Dunning. “I know how much joy eating a delicious, nourishing meal brings to me and my family and I want others to have that same experience.”

The Shelter Meal Delivery Ministry is always looking for additional chefs and drivers. If you would like to get involved, please contact Kellie Patton at 360-292-7102 or kpatton@saintmichaelparish.org.

Paul and Marjorie Frohlich serving with the Shelter Meal Delivery Ministry