Last fall Dave and I started volunteering at Coldwater, which is a growing non-profit organization that provides services such as a food pantry and clothes closet to people in need. In 2010, over 7000 individuals were assisted and 70,000 pounds of food was distributed by Coldwater. During the school year, Coldwater also delivers backpacks filled with food to several of the local elementary schools so children will have something to eat over the weekend.
Through a partnership with Harverster’s, on two Saturdays a month a food pantry is held and a few hundred people are provided bags of groceries and served a hot lunch. This past Saturday I was given the opportunity to be in charge of the meal which included planning the menu as well as cooking and serving.
In planning the menu I took advantage of about 50 pounds of ham that had been donated and placed in the freezers at Coldwater. We defrosted the meat and then engaged a few of our friends to help us cut it into bite size pieces.
On Saturday, we mixed the ham with a few gallons of BBQ sauce.
To serve with the BBQ Ham sandwiches, I also mixed up about 12 pounds of Oriental Slaw. For dessert we used approximately 12 dozen donuts donated by LaMar’s as well as a few cases of yogurt. Molly and a few other girls from the UCM’s Student Dietetics Association (future Dieticians) helped out by serving the food.
The UCM girls also helped out the other volunteers with the packing of groceries and frozen meat that were handed out at the Food Pantry.
I am always amazed at the sheer number of people that turn out each week to receive help. In the circle of friends, family and co-workers that we spend our daily lives with, it is often easy to forget how many others are not as fortunate as we are. If you are interested in learning more about Coldwater you can check them out on their facebook page, Coldwater LeesSummit, email them at Contact@Coldwater.me or call them at 816-786-0758. Better yet, stop by 501 NE Missouri in Lees Summit,Mo on the 2nd or 4th Saturdays of the month and see what they are all about.