FIRST SATURDAY MEAL MINISTRY

Eastside and the Community of East Atlanta provide a community meal on the First Saturday of each month.  

We do this to demonstrate the grace and love of God in a tangible way and to develop relationships with our neighbors. 

WHAT: 

  • Your group will provide food and at least four volunteers to set up, serve and cleanup lunch for about  15-30 neighbors.  

  • Serve with a smile and warm welcome. If you can, have enough folks who can also eat with our  neighbors and get to know them. 

  • If possible, pass out clothing and hygiene items from the pantry storage room.  

  • Distribute or store leftovers, clean up and store items in the church. Set the alarm.

WHEN: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM on the first Saturday of the month. 

WHERE: In front of the sanctuary steps. There is a tent for inclement weather. It is kept in the big room off the  kitchen or in the Pantry storage room. 

WHO: In addition to making or buying food in advance, a Coordinator and at least three volunteers are  needed. At least four volunteers are needed at the event to ensure safety. More are desirable if you wish  to include some pantry clothing distributions (which is always nice) and we encourage members of your group  to eat with our neighbors and get to know them. 

Sign Up to Volunteer Here

IN ADVANCE:  

  • Make sure the coordinator has the alarm code instructions.  

  • There is a bin in the pantry storage area on the table next to the fridge labeled 1st Saturdays. Prior to  purchasing items, check the bin to see what’s already in stock. There are other supplies on and under  the table as well. Food items may be stored in advance in the pantry fridge if you wish. 

  • Check the Propane for the grill (located in pantry near fridge) and see if more is needed. An extra tank  is wise: The grill uses the small Coleman propane tanks. Available at Target, Amazon, Walmart, Lowes,  Home Depot, etc. Decide what your group will serve and make arrangements to buy/make, etc. 

FOOD:  

  • We stay away from pork because there are some who won’t eat it.  

  • There is not much demand for vegetarian options but you may want to provide a few anyway.

  • The aim is hospitality. You do not have to grill, but DO provide something nice for lunch. 

  • We try to keep the meal somewhat balanced with some sort of vegetable and fruit included. Bananas  and mandarin oranges are well received; apples are not good because many people have trouble biting them. 

Warm Weather: The favorites in nice weather are beef hotdogs or hamburgers. If you choose to do this,  members of your group can set up the grill and serve folks as items are ready. Or you may choose to do  another main course. Grill is in the pantry storage room near the fridge. You will need:

  • Drinks  

  • Buns 

  • Condiments 

  • Plates  

  • Tableware 

  • Napkins 

  • Side dishes are always enjoyed (mac and cheese, salad, fruit, etc.) 

  • Dessert 

Cold weather: Casseroles, stews and soups are great. Don’t forget bowls if you serve soup! You will  need: 

  • Drinks (if you can organize it, hot drinks in cold weather are nice) 

  • Plates and/or bowls 

  • Tableware (make sure you have spoons if serving a stew or soup) 

  • Napkins 

  • Side dishes 

  • Dessert 

DRINKS: a case of chilled bottled water is a good idea. On really hot days small sport drink bottles or electrolyte packets that can be mixed into water bottles may be an added option. 

CLOTHING: If you have enough volunteers, pull out clothing/hygiene items from the pantry storage area to  hand out.  

TASKS:  

Coordinator: Enter at door nearest to kitchen, turn off the alarm if it is beeping. Contact Eileen Howard  (614-214-4030), or Irene Dwinnell (919-451-3639) if you need the code. 

When volunteers arrive, pull out the grill, one rectangle table (from the church), trash bags, serving  utensils, hand sanitizer, other paper goods needed.  

  • Set up the table under the tree in front of the sanctuary steps.  

  • Put the grill on the dirt so it doesn’t drip on the concrete. 

  • It is never a bad idea to ask neighbors to help with cleanup or serving. Serving WITH rather than FOR  people is one of our goals. 

  • Collect Trash. It can be taken over to Brannan Towers dumpster or take home with you. 

  • Wipe down tables 

  • Return all items to the appropriate places in church. 

  • Return unused paper products to the bin and return to church kitchen. 

  • Wash the grill grates and serving utensils 

  • Re-set the Alarm! 

SAFETY: We rarely get requests to use the bathroom, but say no unless you have enough volunteers for two to go inside and two to stay outside. Many of the visitors would fall under the category of “vulnerable adults” so safe sanctuary policies should be applied. 

ALARM 

  • To open the door (to the church or the pantry area) alarm code + * 

  • To turn off the alarm inside, use the pad: alarm code +1 (only needed for the church)

  • To lock the door behind you - press any key (door) 

  • To reset the alarm, use the alarm pad inside. Press alarmcode+2 (only needed for church)

Tips for Safety 

  • Many people on the margins experience a great deal of daily stress. They may be anxious and inclined to  defensiveness and aggressive speech. Some may be addicts or have mental illness. These people typically are NOT DANGEROUS. But sometimes conflicts can arise and it is good to be prepared to handle them well.  Here are a few basic guidelines. 

  • Keep your face and demeanor open and friendly. Smile. Treat them as an equal. ● Introduce yourself and ask for their name. 

  • Speak slowly and quietly.

  • Let them know you see they are upset and that you care about them. Repeating what you heard them  say can be a way to make sure they know this. 

  • If you can, slowly walk them away from where there are the most people and/or the source of their  conflict. You can say things like, “I can hear you better over here.” Or “could we talk over here?” 

  • Do not try to be the arbiter of disagreements and determine who was “at fault”. Just express understanding of their frustration. Make it clear you are not in charge of people getting food. “I know  you are angry and I understand why. I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m afraid I’m not in charge of their conduct. But can I offer you another plate? Would you like a drink?” 

  • Don’t let “rules” get in the way of problem solving. Someone wants a second hotdog? Just give it to  them! Let them know there is enough for all. 

  • In the unlikely event there is a weapon, call 911 immediately. Do not intervene or try to resolve. Move yourself and others in danger out of the vicinity.