Noah Works in the Kitchen

Submitted June 15, 2011 by Ben Shine | 2 comments

I started my second day at Second Helpings bright and early, in the volunteer kitchen. Liz, who runs the kitchen, greeted me with a smile and an infectious cackle that would soon become familiar. She set me to work prepping the kitchen for the volunteers’ arrival; I set out buckets of soapy water, and oiled forty pans for later use.

Chef Liz's laugh and smile powers our Hunger Relief kitchenThe volunteers started coming in small groups. Liz gave each of them the same warm greeting she gave me. She directed each of them to their tasks. Some were set about chopping onions, cutting meats, or boiling pasta water. Others had the envious task of cooking with the giant tilt griddles. The huge apparatuses can cook 600 meals at one time, and full of food, present a daunting challenge for all but the most seasoned volunteer.

Once production picked up, Liz told me to head back into the refrigerators for the pork for the day. I was to correctly apportion the pork in those same 40 pans I had oiled earlier, and then dole out mashed potatoes to accompany the meat. The pork, which had been cooked the day before in a pineapple marinade, was to be reheated in the pan later that night at an agency.

The rest of the morning flew by. There were more pork cutlets, a broiled brisket, and gorgeous pork roasts that needed slicing and dressing. Before I knew it, lunch had rolled around.

My experience in the Second Helpings Hunger Relief kitchen was amazing. I’d already seen the food being delivered, but I had no idea of the enormous journey it took to get to finished product. Today I got to see the meat of the organization, literally.


-Noah
 

Comments

Aunt Ann
June 16th, 2011 2:25pm
Sounds like a wonderful project! Glad you are helping and learning!rnrnxxoo Love, Aunt Ann
Jeni Umble
June 15th, 2011 2:23pm
Way to go, Noah! Hope your experience will inspire other young adults to get involved. Thanks for sharing.

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