[Community-service] working with the homeless

[bookwormahb at earthlink.net]

Hi all,

Have any of you worked at soup kitchens or food pantries? How about an area where you either sort out clothes or give them out?
How did it go? Did you just memorize what food was in front of you?  As you know, we have to wear gloves when serving and cannot touch the food.
If you are serving, how did you know when they were there? When my dad and I served at a shelter, they would line up
quietly. I did not always know when someone new was coming up. I have tunnel vision, so spotting a person was not always doable. My dad would say someone was there. They lined up together, but sometimes people came in later during that hour at random times.
Since we cannot read clothes tags or labels on items, I’m not sure we can sort food/clothes/everyday items.
I’ve not served at a soup kitchen, just shelters. I wonder if a soup kitchen is different and run more assembly line method. That would be easier. Each volunteer in the assembly line would serve an item and the plate would be passed down and handed to the guest at the end.

If you were handing out items, how did you ensure they were getting the right amount of stuff?  For instance, sometimes places limit them to three items or something.
Just wondered what alternative techniques you used so if I do this sort of thing, I’ll know what worked.
Ashley
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