Monday, April 4, 2011

Lunch and dignity

My visit to the Southside Community Kitchen today delivered a combination of expected and unexpected finds.

Expected: Friendly volunteers working to prepare lunch for an indeterminate number of guests at the Christ United Methodist Church on Jolly Road in Lansing. Rows of pie slices lined the kitchen counter, waiting to become dessert.

Unexpected: Round tables of eight set with paper place mats, plastic ware wrapped in paper napkins and secured with a dark green wrapper. A grand piano in the back corner of the room, being played as lovely background music. Volunteers acting as servers for the guests.

That's right: No one stands in line to wait for food at the Southside Community Kitchen, executive director Anna Thiel explained. "It's more dignified," she said.