Our Work with LifeBridge (formerly the Salem Mission)
"For almost three decades, LifeBridge (formerly the Salem Mission) has been working to meet the most urgent needs of the homeless and under-housed in Salem, Massachusetts... BREAK BREAD TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEALS: Three meals are served every day to shelter residents and anyone in the Salem area that is hungry. Over 300 meals a day (110,000 annually) are served. This is accomplished by our Director of Food Services, Kitchen Manager, and over 400 volunteers."
-From the LifeBridgeWebsite
First Universalists are part of those 400 volunteers!
"The Salem Mission's success is fueled by the enthusiasm and dedication of volunteers, more than 400 of whom work with us each year to make our community meals program an incredibly important resource to the neighborhood. Without the creativity and commitment of so many volunteers I do not think we would be able to deliver the 9,000 meals each month - 108,000 each year - that we serve to Salem 's most vulnerable men, women, and families. We are grateful for the support of the First Universalist Society of Salem and look forward to continuing this powerful partnership."
-Mark A. Cote, M.ED, Executive Director
Volunteers from our church help prepare and serve dinner for the residents of Salem Mission on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Here is our current schedule (pdf).
All the food is provided by the mission and there is someone there who coordinates the menu and the food prep. We just show up at the mission (56 Margin Street) between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM to help with prep the dinner and stay through the serving which is between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM. The residents do the cleanup.
At some point in the future, we'd like to expand our Mission outreach by supplying the food for one meal a month if funding can be arranged (any ideas?).
If you want more information please contact Chris Weis at (617) 407-6767 or tizweis @ yahoo.com or the church administrator.
"Why am I volunteering ? The long story is at the beginning of the year I wrote out my 2009 goals.
Towards the top of the list was to give back to the community in whatever capacity the universe offered.
Long and the short of it I put out to the universe what I wanted to do and the universe provided opportunities.
What The Salem Mission represents touches me. I have experienced homelessness and hunger.As a result I have gained insight, compassion and a respect for the human spirit. I appreciate the opportunity to "take care" of what was given to me by paying it forward. "
- Nancy Bacigalupo
"My reason for volunteering at the Salem Mission is purely selfish,...It makes me feel good about myself. Also, the saying "Do unto others...is a sensible way of living one's life."
- Janet Madsen
"For me, feeding the hungry is one of life's great pleasures. I find it very spiritually rewarding to participate in the First Universalist Society, Salem 's meals efforts at the Salem Mission."
-Thomas Costagliolia
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