Monday Fun!

After getting up bright and early today at 6am, our group traveled to a women's lunch shelter at a church in the city. Once we got there, we were introduced to the head chef, Josh, who gave us a brief overview of the shelter. The shelter was responsible for serving breakfast as well as gourmet lunch meals to the women that came to the church. I was put to work immediately in the kitchen, helping to clean some of the vegetables as well as chop some of them up. I was constantly moving from station to station offering to help where it was needed, and was subjected to a year's worth of tears cutting up three onions. Without having much prior cooking experiences, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to see all the work it takes to prepare a gourmet meal and have a hand in what the women would be eating.

After cooking the meal, we had the chance to serve it to the women who came and to sit down and eat it with them. I had the chance to sit and eat with a woman named Joann, who constantly kept me and Roshan laughing with the stories she told. Sitting there with the women, I could see how much it meant to them having someone to talk to and share a meal with. they thanked us constantly for the meal we cooked, but I was more proud of the opportunity to spend time with these women and hear what they had to say. Looking around at the women who came in, it was easy to tell how hard of a toll homelessness can place on them, so it was nice to try and brighten their day by cooking a meal and interacting with them.

I was very impressed and intrigued by the concept that Josh has in place at the shelter in providing gourmet meals, as I felt it catered to the women on a more personal note. I am hoping the rest of the week continues the same learning experience I went through today and I am looking forward to what lies ahead.

--Dom