He arrived on a bicycle with a cardboard box. Jan Raymond had signed up on the Google docs spread sheet to bake desert for the Men's Shelter meal on February 5. He brought the box into my kitchen and displayed the medium-sized mountain of home-made rugelach. A taste was in order. Yum! After he left, a few more "tastes" were in order....
Susi's menu included bierocks (sort of like Shepherds Pie), a much-loved family recipe from her Oklahoma Grandma. Coupled with baked potatoes, a green salad with lots of veggies, and fresh-fruit salad, the dinner was a huge success. The men wanted seconds. Additionally, the men (and volunteers) wanted seconds, thirds, and fourths of rugelach! Jan had baked plenty so we indulged (or, as my Russian Grandma would have said, "overdulged").
Brenda shopped for the dinner, Yonit helped prepare the green and fruit salads and washed dishes; Aaron worked on the salads, setting up the food line, preparing the iced tea and the plates for the late-comers. Laura and Liora prepared the dough for the bierocks, David and Michael prepared the bierocks filling. Julie, Esther, and Margaret helped with the finishing touches, served the dinner, and helped clean-up. While the food was bubbling in the oven, Liora shared a drash on Elijah the prophet. When we entered the dining hall to greet and serve the men we encountered them with newly opened eyes.
We cook, again, on Sunday, March 4. We have plenty of volunteers already
signed up for that evening except that no one has, as of yet, volunteered to lead a drasha or brief discussion with the volunteers. Is that something you can contribute? There is still plenty of volunteer-need for Sunday, April 1, and the sign-up sheet is waiting for you at tinyurl.com/CNSshelterdinnersignup or e-mail Ednah Friedman at edmal@aol.com.
