This is the first time for me to volunteer with Meals On Wheels. I chose to work in the kitchen rather than deliver as I am somewhat directionally challenged (even in a small, big town like Abilene!). I agreed to be there at 6 am (which is the busiest time). I go to work each day at FD at 7 am but let me tell you that one hour earlier seems to be extremely early. This is basically a roll out of bed and roll into the car to get there at 6 am. No time to smell the coffee!
As I arrive and ring the buzzer to be let into the facility and get shown the ropes of the dos and don’ts in a commercial kitchen, I appreciated the kindness and patience of the staff. Lidia, the supervisor over the kitchen staff runs a tight ship!
The first order of business is to stand at a long metal table for the assembly of the cold food bags. The contents of which change each day from cottage cheese to whole fruit to jello and other goodies. We line up and stand on the cushioned pad and the fun begins! I was in charge of dropping a fortune cookie into each bag. The lady beside me opening the plastic bag and slipping in the drink then sliding that towards me for my goodie was a Speed Demon! Not only was she fast, but she was also working with an injury. She had reached to pick up a board in her yard and got bit by a rattlesnake. Her fourth finger at the first knuckle was bandaged. She showed it to me and from the first knuckle to the tip was black. She said she had to undergo anti venom shots and was in the hospital for a week or so. Regardless, she was fast! I had to be on my toes and get my item in the bag and slide it to the next person before the bags waiting for my treat would pile up, slowing down the process. I didn’t want to let anyone down. I concentrated on getting my rhythm while the kitchen staff talked about their evenings and plans for the next day, joking and kidding, laughing. The radio played good music inspiring us to work at a good pace. When the supply of goodies ran out, I had to grab another crate stacked behind me and place the empty crate against the wall. The bags piled up while I was restocking so there was no time to lose!
The heaviest plastic crates (with milk, orange juice) were lifted by the first lady beside me. I watched her lift crates and place them on the table. This position was filled by two women who took turns switching places in the line to give each other a break from the labor-intensive position. One of the ladies is an older Hispanic person who is a tiny, shorter person and she would have to really heft the crate up to the table. The first day, I was concentrating on doing my part and not slowing down the process. The rest of the week I would keep my eye on her crate supply and would step out of the line around her to lift the crate and put it on the table for her. She was certainly capable of the task, however I wanted to save her the trouble. She was surprised the first time I did it. By Wednesday, she was calling me Dear and thanking me each time. I didn’t always catch it in time, and she would lift the crate, but I did my best. In the meantime, the bags were piling up at my station and I would rush to get my item into the bag and slide it to my right.
At 8 o’clock (tempis fugit! – I had no idea how the time flew by so fast), we would break and have the breakfast one of the cooks would prepare for us while we worked. I was offered a warm tortilla and would fill it with the eggs and chorizo or potato or some other delightful filling. Most of us adjourned to the breakroom to sit and relax and catch up on the news on our phones or others would visit. Everyone expressed concern when I shared that my sister and brother-in-law were experiencing their first hurricane in FL. (All is ok, they are fine, and their home was not damaged).
We would go back to the kitchen area and The Line would begin. The music would be changed to Spanish music with a good beat. They would line up to fill the containers with the hot meal while a gentleman who had been working to fill the metal containers from the cooking vats with hot corn, green beans and the meat from the ovens while we worked filling the cold food bags. He would lift these containers several times as he would refill the workstation with newly filled containers of food taking away the empty ones. The compartmentalized trays were placed in slots and rang thru a device which would lay a film of plastic wrap over them. Two people (of which I was one) would label each food tray with stickers labeling each with their designations such as special low sodium or soft or low potassium, The other person (which was me!) would pick up 5 at a time and place it into a tall metal hot box lined with trays waiting for the delivery people to arrive. After a bit, I felt like Hansel and Gretel sticking my head into those hot boxes to reach the back of the tray and deposit the goods.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, a couple of men would come volunteer to work off their Community Service duties. One of the men was a flirt, making the ladies laugh and cut up. Both men spoke highly of the kitchen staff and seemed to completely be enjoying their time there helping, No one there seemed to judge these men and accepted them into their fold with smiles and gratitude for their service.
On Thursdays, two special needs men would come volunteer. The staff were very kind and patient with them, even getting Adam (who was working The Line) to dance to the music. The other man, Kip was an older man and so sweet. He helped me place cookies onto 38 trays, getting them ready to go into the oven. I would get the tray started and then we both would add cookies until the tray was filled, being careful to properly space the sweet goodies onto the tray. I would glance over the cookies and adjust as needed and he would wait for my Good Job! He would giggle each time, just tickled pink that he did it correctly.
Friday came and I worked the assembly line, the ladies more comfortable around me. A couple of them discussed their love lives amongst themselves. When we came back from the morning break there were several young ladies there prepared to serve, all nurses and therefore I left earlier than normal. I greatly enjoyed my time there. These group of people are hard working as well as helpful to each other. Their comradery was to be admired and emulated.
Thank you, Kris, for this opportunity to work with these fine ladies and gentlemen. My time there was enjoyable and inspiring.