We have a have a very popular homeless book club. It was one of the first of its kind in the country and was featured in People magazine. We read everything! All are welcome and we often read out loud together. Everyone signs and dates their book then we give them back out on the street. We meet on Tuesday's at lunchtime. We also offer up a hot lunch or soup and a sandwich, as well.
We have a women's homeless group that meets twice weekly. On Monday mornings and Thursday mornings. It is generally simply a safe place to spend time together safe off the street. It is strictly for women, no men are allowed in during their time. The women have coffee, snacks and often play bingo together winning toiletries and basic necessities. We are also forming a knitting group with them.
We offer a community movie on Friday afternoons. It offers some quiet, safe space off the street along with wonderful camaraderie. We have a passionate following and always offer up 'Stone soup' during the movie serving up whatever ingredients we have leftover in the kitchen on Friday. It's often a hearty loaded potato soup, or stew, or minestrone type. We use everything and have fun creating the soups weekly.
We cook and serve a community dinner on Monday nights 52 weeks a year regardless of holidays or weather. Were serve 200 plates every Monday night totaling on average over 1000 plates a month or over 10,000 a year. We serve hearty, homemade and robust family style meals. We offer up different themes weekly, from Italian to Asian to good old fashioned American barbecue. We try to mimic what people may remember from home... Meatloaf, fried chicken, Shepard's pie etc always served made from scratch & with seasonal fresh ingredients. We always include a fresh salad & second vegetable because we have found fresh vegetables are hard to come by if you're living on the street or close to it. Dessert is also a treat that we work hard to provide everyone with! We have big round tables with plenty of extra seats, we never turn anyone away. Our dinners are spirited, passionate and respectful. We know often this may be the only meal some will have in a day so we make it the absolute best it can be. We have opportunities for people to get involved on many levels.
First and most importantly we need financial support to buy food. We also need people to help cook & serve the meal, as well. It is a great opportunity for people to work together collaboratively with an amazing common goal. We often have businesses that come in to work together outside their offices or job sites as a volunteer opportunity.