2. The Mission
The Franciscan Kitchen, located in downtown
Louisville, KY, serves 400-450 individuals lunch
on a daily basis. No matter what their
background is, the kitchen will serve whomever
is in need. All of the food that is served comes
from local restaurant and grocery donations.
Here, our volunteers cut up potatoes for one of
the dishes the cook prepared.
3. The Roots
The Franciscan Kitchen began in 1980 by
Brother Jim Fields, serving only 4 meals his
first day. Brother Fields was inspired to start
his mission while serving in WWII Okinawa
and witnessing poor people searching the
garbage for food.
Several large bowls of salads had to be
assembled to be served. Here, our volunteers
cut fresh, donated veggies to be put into the
salad.
4. The Support
The preparation of meals for 400 plus
requires lots of work. Beginning at 6 AM, the
wonderful volunteers start the meals that
will be served at 10:30 AM. On average, the
kitchen needs about 100 volunteers on a
weekly basis to help.
Here, our volunteers are disassembling entire
turkeys for the main dish of the meal.
5. The Experience
Volunteering for a mission of this nature was
new to most of our group. Having helped the
kitchen, nearly all of our group have gained a
new perspective in life and are eager to
volunteer here again, or even look outside of
this mission for other volunteer
opportunities.
One of our techs was able to put some of his
skills to good use, repairing a sink that had
drainage issues.
6. Win the Prize?
After serving this mission, it’s hard to say
what we’d do with the prize money. It was
such a humbling experience, one cannot
fathom spending money on frivolous things.
If we were to receive the prize money, our
group would like to give back that money in
some form. Possibly donating it to the
Franciscan Kitchen, who is always in need of
money for food and supplies.
Here, our volunteers are assembling rolls of
silverware for the meal’s participants.
