Ray, a Kairos Member and kitchen volunteer, washes dishes after mealtime.
Nothing brings people together more than a freshly cooked meal. During mealtime at Christ House, the building becomes more alive than ever, as patients, Kairos Members, volunteers, and staff gather around the table, share stories, and forge connections with one another. For many of our patients, their arrival at Christ House marks the first time in a long while that they’ve had three, stable meals a day. It also plays an integral role in their recovery, as our nutritious meals help patients become healthier and regain strength.
Ray, one of the members of our Kairos Permanent Housing Program, volunteers often at the Christ House kitchen and is a friendly presence for patients who have been in our care for weeks and patients who have recently arrived at Christ House. Ray came to Christ House as a patient almost two years ago and joined the Kairos Program soon after. His work in the kitchen can change on any given day, from serving meals to cleaning dishes and wiping tables. Ray remarks that he enjoys volunteering because it’s an opportunity to give back: “It’s satisfying. It’s nice to help the guys because when I first came here the guys helped me. Paying it forward, it can’t be any simpler than that.”
Ray continues, “You see a lot of the guys come in here and gobble food up. There’s a good staff here and all the food is fresh. It doesn’t come out of a package. It’s homemade everyday three times a day.”
For the first time since our opening in 1985, we are conducting a full renovation and upgrade of our kitchen so that we can continue to serve hot nutritious meals to our Christ House community for years to come. Here’s how you can help us during this critical time for our organization:
- Make a donation to support our kitchen renovations. We rely greatly on individual contributions, and we need your help more than ever as we begin these costly renovations and upgrades. Select “Food and Kitchen Supplies Fund” on our donation page or mention “kitchen” in the comment section. Any and all contributions help immensely.
Having a healthy and filling meal is vital for health and healing. Ray reflects, “After being homeless, having three nice hot meals…it’s just the way things are supposed to be.” We appreciate your consideration in making a contribution to help Christ House continue to provide meals for our patients.
Leave a Reply