Our First U Emmanuel Dining Room (EDR) outreach this month continued unabated, thanks to some intrepid souls on the team. It really does take a village! Last month we learned that EDR has moved to a take-out system of serving their meals, so when Renee and Charlie Anderson ventured out for our April groceries they also picked up a supply of takeout containers, which we knew were in great need. We were ready! So on the morning of Sunday, April 19th, Renee and Charlie loaded up their car bright and early with groceries, made a stop at Cindy & Steve Cohen’s to pick up the rest of the supplies.

Renee and Charlie headed to Sue Wilson’s, who was the hub of casserole prep.  Sue single-handedly made up all the casseroles we needed to serve the over 200+ people who come to EDR each month. (What a champ!) And like a well-oiled machine, at the allotted pickup time, Kate Cowperthwait and Maureen LaFate pulled up to Sue’s home and picked up our meal and delivered it to EDR for serving the next day.

This month we provided our usual meal of Chicken Shepherd’s Pie and Baked Apples, along with takeout containers – and a last-minute addition of 400+ plastic forks that we learned that morning they were in desperate need of. (Cindy & Steve raided their pantry for those and drove them over to Sue’s house at the last minute.) Many thanks to everyone who is pitching in to help those who are experiencing homelessness and those in need, especially during this time of social distancing. We couldn’t do it without all the support of First U and our amazing First U EDR team members, who we are finding are amazingly flexible during this time! We thank you all – stay safe and healthy.