This is a photo and a quote from one of our recipients of our new "Lunch Box Program" at The Window,Inc. For those of you who don't know me - I am the Kitchen Administrator at The Window, Inc, which is a soup kitchen/food pantry/social service for our local community.
We began this new program this week for those who work during the hours that we hand out sandwiches. We wanted to reward them for being faithful and giving them a good nutritious meal. If they came for our hot lunch and stuck around - we would give them some leftovers to take with them to work. It just makes sense. We have 6 people right now on our program. We are hoping that it increases as word gets around.
I love my job, plain and simple! I love interacting with people as they come in. I love getting to know them and hearing their stories. I love giving them hope and a smile and a place where they are recognized, known and valued. Everyone is treated as family - we joke, we laugh, we cry and rejoice at the good and even get angry at the bad.
Just yesterday, I was beginning to clean up the dining room after lunch was finished. A young man asked if he could help and of course, I wasn't going to turn it down. As he began to help, 2 more young men just pitched right in. They had that dining room cleaned up in about 20 min. time. We had the music turned up and were singing and dancing as we cleaned. I love when I have the help and it makes them feel better knowing that they are giving back for the meal they just enjoyed. And I like to think they even enjoy being with me. =)
If you would like to know more about what we do - check out our facebook page The Window, Inc and there is a link to our website. We have a shower for those that have no place to shower. We also offer laundry services. We have a clothing closet. We run a Meals On Wheels program from our kitchen as well. And there is so much more that we offer and everything is free. We are mostly run by the donations from the community. We receive some food from the local Food Bank. We also receive some financial assistance from a few local grants. We continue to grow and change. We currently serve approx. 350 people a day through our many services. And we are running at 9 people on staff. Definitely a deficit there - but our budget doesn't allow at this point any more staff. But God helps us and at the end of the day - we wonder how it all happens. =) By the grace and sufficiency of our God!
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