Soup Kitchen Ministry
Purpose
Blessed Sacrament's group serves the hungry homeless of the city, working in conjunction with the Dinner Program for Homeless Women (DPHW).
Description of Ministry
Our volunteers prepare and serve a meal every Monday morning, typically consisting of a chili mac entree, salad, fruit, dessert, bread and tea. The menu varies appropriately for various holidays. We also contribute other needs, such as toiletries, socks and other warm clothing. In the larger context, DPHW offers a place to take a shower and do laundry, and other amenities, as well as various social and rehabilitative opportunities.
Our mission is supported by the Outreach Collection on the first Sunday of each month, as well as by the donations of food in kind, either at the church or from local markets.
History
About thirty years ago, Blessed Sacrament women took up the challenge of feeding the hungry. Among the earliest were Sheila Langevin, Gloria Grove, and Ellen Ozga. In the beginning they bought food with their own money, prepared it at home and toted it to Zacchaeus kitchen on Monday morning. Over time, the monthly Outreach Collection came into being to collect money for the meal. Over the years, many women and men from Blessed Sacrament (as well as some from other parishes and faith groups) have continued to serve a morning meal on Monday morning at the kitchen, using funds collected each month on Outreach Sunday.
For much of that time, Zacchaeus shared the same facility at First Congregational Church near Metro Center with the Dinner Program for Homeless Women (DPHW). In November 2006, Zacchaeus Community Kitchen ceased operating. DPHW took over the morning meal program and is now running it in conjunction with the evening dinner program. In January 2007 the programs moved to a new location in First Trinity Lutheran Church on E St. NW, near Judiciary Metro Station. Blessed Sacrament's group has continued its commitment without interruption at the new location in cooperation with DPHW.
The morning program now operates under the name DPHW: Daily Bread/Daily Needs-i.e., our patrons receive not only a meal, but other needs-such as toiletries, socks, underwear, a place to take a shower and do laundry, and other amenities. Other social and rehabilitative opportunities are offered.
Blessed Sacrament's Monday morning offering has a citywide reputation among the homeless as being the best there is. In addition to being delicious, it is plentiful and our volunteers are caring and respectful of our patrons.
Feeding the hungry does a great deal more in context, than simply meeting caloric and nutritional needs. The destitute come from many different backgrounds ranging from life-long poverty and deprivation to neglected war veterans to those who are simply beaten down by life. DPHW's programs meet a broad range of needs--addiction, physical and mental illness, homelessness, joblessness, literacy and computer training, various cultural opportunities, etc., etc. These services are funded by outside contributions, grants, and contracts with other agencies.
Having the services available does not mean that they will be quickly availed of by those that need them, however. This is where the meal programs acquire much greater significance, as described by DPHW's director:
DPHW's philosophy is that meals are the first step in connecting people to services and moving them on the path out of homelessness. Because DPHW is low-barrier, anyone can come off the streets into our dining hall and receive a meal, no questions asked. This means that homeless individuals who are not connected with services anywhere else, and would never seek them out of their own accord, come to DPHW.
In a very basic way, a person who is hungry cannot worry about housing or employment; basic needs must be met in order to start the rehabilitative process. This process is facilitated by the warm atmosphere of trust, respect, and compassion that serving someone a hot, nutritious, and delicious meal creates (breaking bread together builds community in a way that nothing else can). But, even if the person is not ready for a job or a place of their own in 1 week, 6 mos., or 3 years, DPHW still believes that they deserve a meal and a warm place to be. This is a traditional Christian ethic that has been lost in some organizations who have started focusing only on outcomes that they can count (and thus turn away the people who are more difficult to reach, and for whom simply saying hello is a major victory).
The Blessed Sacrament Monday group comprises about 15-20 men and women who come frequently or regularly to help at the kitchen. If you wish to join the effort, please call one of our coordinators:
Kathy Beal 301-881-7711
Cathy Nestor 202-244-2534
Ann Cooper 202-362-9719
Volunteers are also needed on Outreach Sunday, the first Sunday of each month. This is a minor commitment time-wise, but extremely important. You need only be present at one of the church doors for 10-15 minutes before and after one of the Masses to receive contributions.
