Volunteering at the Food and Care Coalition

Last week many of our classmates volunteered at the Provo Food Care and Coalition. I'm a little embarrassed to say this was my first time volunteering here although I have dropped off desserts before:)

I had envisioned what I've seen on tv: long tables with food laid out, all of us volunteers standing behind the table, the patrons walking along the table with their plates, holding them forward as we dished out food.

Wrong.

I love how they do it at the FCC! While I was disappointed not to have more interaction, I was impressed with how they actually serve the food. To have volunteers serving the food to the people gives a sense of being in a restaurant, where the customer matters and service is given to make the meal enjoyable. I also feel like serving it this way even gives the patron a little bit more dignity rather than standing in the line, essentially begging for food (obviously not begging, but putting forth the plate in the hopes of food being ladled on).

I was able to briefly say hi and smile to a few patrons before being whisked away to another job, but the general sense I got was that they were happy to be there, were appreciative of the service given to them, and pleasant to be around.

I will not lie though, by the end, when I finally had a chance to stand at the counter and look out over the crowd, I also experienced the smell of unwashed humanity, and that is a bias I need to figure out how to overcome, probably more than any other bias I have! It made me wonder about living conditions here in Provo. I know in SL they have The Road Home, but I don't know where homeless stay here, if anywhere. If that's the case, how can they maintain, or even obtain, the dignity of walking around bathed and feeling refreshed. And perhaps that's not high on the list of priorities when you're homeless or living at such a level of poverty that you need meals provided.

This was a great experience for me. I also learned that I can donate my time to play the piano/clarinet/whatever, because they're not looking for professionals, they're looking for something to distract/entertain/give a sense of more than just coming for food...a social experience/exposure that they may not otherwise get. A great first time exposure for me to have!