The Well-Oiled Homeless Machine

I have written before about my church's ministry to the homeless in Indianapolis.  I'm not sure how it all started, but someone in our church met with someone in another church and learned about how the other church was providing meals for the homeless in Indy.  Our folks took up the charge.  One meal a week...taken to the people under the bridges, etc...much to the dismay of the city authorities who would just like the whole thing to go away. 

My grandchildren's paternal grandfather (Phil) is the main cook and menu-decider.  He scours the Internet looking for recipes--mostly soups--that are hearty and nutritious, depending on what ingredients have been on sale or donated in a particular period.  One gal...a Galyan...is the chief contact with the homeless people.  Another guy takes care of the church van's transportation and the purchases, plus helps in the kitchen.  Yet another fellow shows up weekly to drive the van.  And in between, there are the "worker bees" among us who show up, pack lunch sacks with puddings and fruit cups and applesauce cups, pack whatever bread products we have for the week (corn bread, etc.), chop veggies, and serve up/pack the foods to head to the city.  There is no schedule for who will show up to work.  We accept all takers!  I usually only help out during the winter when the "snow birds" head south and the kitchen is shorter-handed than usual.

What I noticed today is that the machine works, no matter who is there.  My grandchildren's Uncle Dan was chopping onions when I arrived, then he left.  Grandpa Phil was cooking the "winter lentil and vegetable" soup.  The van guy was packing sacks.  When I arrived, I took over the sack-packing while the van guy cut up a ham that had been donated.  Two other experienced gals showed up.  They made ham sandwiches, and when we ran out of ham, they made peanut butter sandwiches to go along with the soup.  We ran out of sandwich bags, so had to revert to plastic wrap...but it all worked. 

There is always a break time between the conclusion of preparations (packing bags) and time to serve up the hot foods.  We sit in Clayton Hall and chit-chat.  It's a time of great fellowship!  Today we were talking about experiences with Canada geese.  I know...you had to be there...but it was an enjoyable time.  Then we went back to the kitchen to serve up and pack the soup.  (There is a sytem to the packing...in foam containers, etc.  Those who do it weekly have it down to a fine science. 

When we get the soup put into foam containers and packed, I generally come home.  Some day, I will go downtown with the crew to be part of rubbing elbows with the homeless...but for now, I'm just happy to help out.  I just noticed today that the job would get done, no matter who/how many showed up to assist.  This is how it should be.  No glory here.  Just get the job done!

And you know what?  It is so nasty cold tonight that I pray there are no homeless to be found.  Schools all over central IN are delaying the start of the day tomorrow in deference to wind chills.  I am so grateful to God for my little warm house-on-a-slab tonight!