Millionair Club Charity: Food Service

Mission: To encourage self-sufficiency through jobs and assistance to those that want to help themselves.

http://www.millionairclub.org/flash_videos/vids2.html 

Today I felt instantly welcomed into the Millionair Club family when I arrived at 6am to report for food service duty.  This incredible organization is constantly moving, starting with their breakfast service to over 150 people each morning.  I was put right to work prepping all of the home made dishes Terry, the kitchen manager, had prepared for that morning.  Unlike many food service organizations for the homeless, Millionair Club prepares all of its meals fresh every day in house.  The club has excellent facilities including an entire basement warehouse, which food banks and other organizations are envious of. They receive all there food through donations and spend a minimal amount of money on purchased food each month because of all the donations they receive.  

Terry has been working as the kitchen manager for the past 15 years.  His attention to the needs of those he is serving comes through in the flavors of his cooking and you can taste the passion in every meal.  The rest of the kitchen staff love to joke with one another and are some of the most hard-working people I have encountered.  

Many of us when thinking about homeless services automatically turn to food service and soup kitchens.  The need for these services is apparent and helps in providing meals to those who cannot afford to make or buy their own.  Millionair Club looks at meals a little differently.  The main focus of their organization is to provide members with daily job opportunities that help individuals build up enough self-sufficiency to become employed in a full-time position.  Each meal that the Millionair Club creates ensures a proper amount of nutrients, high protein, and a healthy balance of fruit and vegetables for its client’s diets.  They do this to prepare their clients to work at their best when sent out on jobs for the day.

The Millionair Club has an open door policy when it comes to meal service and anyone is allowed through the doors to get a hot meal for breakfast or lunch.  The population served through this program ranges from the chronic homeless to the recently unemployed and on average they serve between 150 – 300 people for each meal.  On holidays, they sometimes serve over 600 people for one sitting! 

I encourage those of you who have the time to check out your local food service agencies.  Call them up and check to see how they serve meals.  Do they have an open door policy?  If so, are you allowed to come down for a meal and sit with clients?  These are the questions we should all start asking ourselves in order to get involved in our communities.  Start asking those questions people.  Opportunities are only out there for the people who seek them.  Be that person, make that contact, experience community!

Cheers,
Bryan