We welcome all volunteers from the inner or outer community, and this is just one opportunity for AWAKENING members to reach out to the larger San Luis Obispo county community in acts of service. Don't miss this opportunity to join in a service project in support of our homeless community this year.

The Circle of Selfless Service "Meal Team" has been managed by AWAKENING community member Susan Wood, and is now being taken over by Pat Beck, the scheduling coordinator for the People's Kitchen. The meals are served about once a month at the Maxine Lewis Shelter and at the Prado Day Center in SLO. Between 70 and 130 people are served during each meal at these facilities. Pat could use your support in assisting with meal preparation or serving. The meals are always on a Saturday evening or a Sunday at noontime (see schedule below). This program is extremely well organized and the duties and responsibilities are clearly laid out for volunteers. 

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You can volunteer by calling Pat Beck
at 805-235-9712

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How the Meal Team Works

Once you sign up to be on the meal team list, you will be contacted by email (or by phone) as each meal approaches to see whether you want to volunteer. We hope that each person is able to help three or four times a year, but even once is appreciated!

The jobs are divided into two categories: cookers and servers (though if somebody really wants to do both, that’s possible, too). Twelve to fourteen people are needed for each meal.

Each person donates what s/he brings, unless that is a hardship—in which case volunteers can save their receipts and arrange for reimbursement. The jobs in each category are listed below, along with a very brief description. (For ALL meal team instructions, with places, times, maps, recipes, and detailed instructions for each job, click here.)

The commitment for each meal is approximately two hours, whether you are cooking or serving.

COOKERS deliver food well-insulated and hot (or cold) and do not usually serve. These are the cooking jobs:

• Meat loaf—need 3-5 people to each bring 2 or 4 loaves (made with 2 1/2 lbs meat in each loaf)
• Veggie loaves—need 1 person to bring 2 loaves
• Mashed potatoes – need 1 person to bring enough for 100+ (using large disposable aluminum pans or large pots to hold approximately 4 gallons) 
• Gravy—need 1 person to make from mix (enough for 100+, need pot(s) to hold approximately 1 1/2 gal)
• Salad—1 person (Susan usually brings the salad)

SERVERS serve during the meal, help clean up, plus bring one item from the list below:

• Bread—6 or 7 loaves, plus a tub of margarine—1 person
• Milk (2%)—6 gallons
• Bananas—1 case (about 40 lbs)
• Salad dressing—(ranch or Italian) 3 quarts
• Tomatoes—12-15 large RIPE tomatoes, cut up small for salad

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