The IAM Midwest Territory staff recently donated, cooked and served more than 300 pounds of food for the homeless, as part of the Territory’s ongoing “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” program.
IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway and his staff recently donated, cooked and served more than 300 pounds of food for the homeless, as part of the Territory’s ongoing “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” program.
IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway, left, and staff prepare a warm holiday meal for the homeless during the IAM Midwest Territory’s “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” event.
WATCH: IAM Midwest Territory Staff Cooks and Feed the Homeless
The more than 25 staff members and their spouses hauled in dozens of boxes and crates of chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread rolls and pumpkin pie to Shepherd’s Table, a local soup kitchen and shelter in Joliet, IL. Together they prepared the warm holiday meal and served it to the area’s less fortunate.
The Territory also gifted each guest with a pair of warm socks and a holiday card.
“Winters in the Midwest can be especially brutal,” said Galloway. “With the cold temperatures quickly dropping by the day, shelters across the entire Territory are opening their doors. But keeping the less fortunate around us safe and healthy takes a village.”
“Donating, cooking and serving a warm meal, while bringing with us some holiday cheer, is the least my staff and I can do to help those in need this holiday season,” continued Galloway. “And, dry socks are essential to anyone living on the streets. In fact, they are the one item that’s most requested by local shelters – yet they are donated less frequently than other items.
“This is what the IAM Midwest Territory’s H.E.L.P.S. program, now in its third year, is all about. It’s just one way the Territory is helping to do its part as a part of our ongoing commitment of ‘Honoring, Engaging, Lifting, Providing and Servicing’ our community.”
Breaking from the traditional cafeteria line where guests normally line up to receive their meals, the IAM Midwest Territory staff decided they wanted to wait on each guest, instead. Upon entering the soup kitchen, guests were greeted and asked to take a seat wherever they felt comfortable. Staff then served each guest, bringing their meals directly to them at their tables.
“Thank you,” said Gail Flatness, Shepherd’s Table Kitchen Coordinator. “For one hour you guys helped our guests forget they were homeless.”
See photos from the IAM Midwest Territory staff “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” event
The IAM Midwest Territory, along with their Districts and Locals, has hosted more than 20 “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” events, with more than 450 volunteers across the Territory, to date. Each District and Unaffiliated Local is tasked with hosting at least one event per year. For more information on the IAM Midwest Territory’s “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” program, click here.
