FUMC volunteers serve up meals at Salvation Army homeless shelter

April 28, 2008 Story and photos by Marjorie Brooks

 For four years now, Modesto First United Methodists and their friends and even extended families have prepared and served a number of dinners to the people at the Salvation Army/Berberian Homeless Shelter in Modesto. 

It’s quite an undertaking. Since there is no kitchen at the shelter, all of the meal must be prepared elsewhere. Then it must be transported to the old warehouse at 9th and D streets. Most groups rely on using the church kitchen facilities for preparation. Others groups apportion parts of the meal out to people cooking in private homes.   All prepare for a little over 100 shelter guests plus the shelter staff.

6:30 p.m. is the target time. That’s when the people in the shelter for the night have been processed in and assigned their beds. That’s when dinner preparers try to have the meal spread out on some folding tables in a corner of the big room built within the old warehouse.  Being able to offer a main course as hot as possible is always a concern, as is remembering to bring all necessary serving implements, all needed plates, silverware, cups and napkins and drinks and all cleanup supplies.

Always a prayer begins the meal, and always, as is Salvation Army custom, the 15 – 20 women there for the night are served first. Then anyone disabled is taken a tray.  Then the men line up. Most people have second helpings. Often there are thirds.  Always there is a line up for seconds as soon as everyone else has been through the serving line once. 

A variety of people have taken part in the mission on behalf of FUMC. Some first graders at the serving table beside their parents last month took some grown-up responsibility for passing out orange slices and cookies. Judy Church, who chaired the church’s participation during the shelter’s first year, and her  extended family prepared and served the 2007 Christmas Eve meal. She says her family reported it was the most satisfying Christmas Eve they’ve ever had. The FUMC Youth Group served an Easter meal under the direction of Pastor Cindy Hamilton.

A high school teacher and member of FUMC brought some of her students right after school to help finish preparations two months ago and then to serve. One student, she reported later, happened to be Buddhist and another Muslim. Their parents had heartily approved their participation. The kids came back to help the next time FUMC had a dinner turn even though their teacher couldn’t.

Julie Zietan and Martha Robey for three years have been coordinators in charge of FUMC’s participation in the effort shared with other community groups.

Zietan is another of those whose family gathers round to help her take responsibility for a particular night. When her family served a ham, scalloped potatoes and green beans meal recently, Zietan says one gentleman happily told her, ‘This is a dinner like I remember at my mom’s house.’  

Zietan continues, “There is so much satisfaction in having this as one of our church’s active mission projects.  It’s just like Jesus said in Hebrews 13:16: ‘Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.’ ”

Miscellaneous information re FUMC participation: 

   Seven to 10 people are needed to actually serve each meal. Time needed is about an hour.

   Meals have ranged this year from a burrito plate to ham and chicken and spaghetti.

   Those who cannot cook or serve can help underwrite the cost of the food. Contact Martha Robey or Julie Zietan or leave a donation in the church offering plate or office. 

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