Health & Fitness
Volunteers are PRICELESS! (Part 2)
Today we continue with... Volunteers are PRICELESS!
Serving in the Cornerstone Soup Kitchen
The Soup Kitchen serves over 40,000 meals a year. We serve the meals to those in the two Rockville homeless shelters, people from the neighborhood having a tough time having healthy meals and many people from the Greater Rockville area. Often children are recipients of the meals. The staff makes sure that children and their parents are served first, and then everyone else. It is incredibly difficult at times to prepare enough food without having any waste. At the beginning of each month the attendance numbers are lower and as the end of the month stretches on, many people utilize the Soup Kitchen, as their food budgets and supports run dry.
Servers, Dishwashers, Cleaners - Certified staff prepare the meals, but volunteers help serve and clean-up.
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At lunch time, (11:30 am Mon-Fri) those that are staying in our homeless shelter volunteer at the Soup Kitchen.
At dinner time (5:00 pm Mon-Fri) many volunteers from the faith-community and sometimes even entire families serve together.
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On weekends we could use more help. We serve only one meal, a Brunch on Saturday and Sunday. If we had more resources, such as volunteers and food supplies, we would like to add a late afternoon meal on the weekends.
Donating
Food - The value of “healthy” foods is extremely appreciated by all! The Cornerstone Soup Kitchen is the recipient of incredible generosity from the community. Local supermarkets donate product and caterers and social organizations donate leftovers from banquets and meetings. The Coventry Regional Farmer’s Market has begun donating loads of fresh vegetable and healthy baked goods this past summer. Vernon Visiting Nurses donates excess “Meals on Wheels” for those in the shelter. We also receive weekly donations from Stop & Shop.
Clothing - More often than not, people that we serve, show up at the doorstep of the shelter or the Soup Kitchen carrying a small bag of belongings and not owning much more clothing than what they’re wearing at the time. Ed Keune, one of our moist dedicated volunteers for years, along with his small yet, highly motivated and trustworthy team has lead the efforts to supply our region with clothing to those who need it the most. Nothing is ever charged for the clothing, shoes, coats, and miscellaneous items that our citizens need. Ed and his remarkable crew chart each client’s needs and makes sure they get just as much as they need so that there will be enough clothing for other families. The Clothing Bank even keeps a supply of Bibles that are available, always offered and never forced.
Furniture - Many times when people are using our services, it’s because they have no place to live. Once we help them find a permanent home, then we often assist in getting them furniture and bedding. Throughout the year, we receive calls from people wishing to donate such items. We now store them and have a supply that miraculously is what others need, when they need it. We are so thankful that people only donate items in good condition so that other can use them immediately. If it’s on someone’s heart in the community who might want to volunteer to help us fix furniture or repair appliances, we would be extremely thankful!
Transportation - There are many times, that we could utilize volunteers if they have a vehicle to supply rides. Some volunteers are willing to drive to doctor’s appointment. Not only does this provide help for those with very little cash resources, but it also assists greatly in forming relationships between people who just like to talk with others. Some people are willing to assist us in moving furniture; some are willing to help us pick up donations. Cornerstone does not have a delivery truck so we truly appreciate when people assist us when moving the especially larger items. We are also in constant need for volunteers to use their pick-up or box trucks to help us.
Community Outreach - Once people learn how frugal Cornerstone is with the donations we receive, they are often helpful by spreading the word around our community. To this end, we could use volunteers to help us with outreach to the communities we serve. That could take many forms. We could use people to help us in the area of social media, coordination of donations, both acquiring and distribution, and probably most important in volunteer coordination.
Donating supplies -
We have created “Wants and Needs” lists for this purpose. There are some items we always seem to need, but then there are some things that we might want, but are not critical.
Soup Kitchen - During the summer month we have been fortunate to be the recipient of fresh fruits and vegetable from our community and beyond. Thru ought the past months our clients were able to enjoy several delicious full meals provided by Country Butcher. Country Butcher is scheduled to prepare a meal at the soup kitchen on November 21st.
A new commercial floor for the scullery and prep area has been donated including installation. We hope to have this project completed before Thanksgiving.
Our need: Fresh vegetables and fruit, turkeys, milk, and juice,
Clothing Bank – There are streams of People coming to our clothing bank looking or warm Winter clothing including coats, boots, hats scarf’s, and gloves. We have been able to at this time accommodate everyone seeking our help. I don’t know what will happen after February.
We have need of clean or new sleeping bags, blankets, new pillows. Unfortunately sleeping in the woods has become a lifestyle for some people. We try to do all that we can to help them. Winter is particularly difficult for them.
Community Center – It is our goal to provide a safe non- threatening atmosphere where one can go without fear and enjoy themselves. The Community Center is open several nights each week to help keep the kids off of the streets. The Director, Paula is available for a one on one discussion when needed. The main room has a basketball hoop and needless to say the kids enjoy it. In addition there is a game room with a pool table and other games, there is always a need for board games or anything that you think a teenager would enjoy doing.
Next … donated items that are always appreciated!
CORNERSTONE FOUNDATION, INC
Feeding the Hungry, Clothing the Naked, Sheltering the Homeless
(Isaiah 58:6-7)
A Place of Caring and Sharing
P.O. Box 2036 Rockville, CT 06066-1436
Tel. 860.871.1823 Fax 860.896-5057
Our Mission Statement
The Cornerstone Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit ecumenical outreach organization. It is a safe non-threatening atmosphere where one can be listened to, affirmed and encouraged.
Our primary endeavor is to improve the quality of life among the people we serve. We are committed to a set of values and objectives which we believe are essential to achieving our mission and realizing our vision.
- Soup Kitchen (860)871-1823
- Youth Center (860)870-0500
- Clothing Bank (860)870-0500
- Cornerstone Shelter (860)875-6343
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