Early in the pandemic, 约翰·霍普金斯家庭护理小组的药剂师杰森·卡特科夫看到了帮助社区的机会. His children’s school, Krieger Schechter Day School, 与犹太志愿者协会合作,为那些为无家可归者提供食物的组织准备午餐. Katcoff把这个想法带到了家庭护理集团的社区外展委员会,希望能做一些类似的事情. 五场活动和1201顿午餐之后,“午餐团”项目仍在蓬勃发展.
“I was grateful for how generous the Home Care Group was. They easily exceeded my expectations,” Katcoff says. 大约5美元的物资可以做三顿午餐,许多人捐赠的远远不止这些. The shelters greatly appreciated our efforts, 每个参与其中的人都度过了一段美好的时光.”
卡特科夫计划在2021年5月举行第一次午餐组装活动, 那时犹太志愿者协会的资源会因为犹太的五旬节而捉襟见肘. 家庭护理小组的社区外展委员会负责后勤工作. 然后,他们开始宣布该活动并征求捐款.
“The response was immediate,” Katcoff says. “We had originally aimed for 100 to 200 lunches. As the funds came in, 很明显,200顿午餐是很容易实现的——尤其是在我妻子发现当地一家杂货店的饼干大减价之后.”
在第一次活动中,12名家庭护理集团的员工聚集在霍拉伯德自助餐厅. 一群人开始装饰袋子,给午餐增添一点风格. Others set to work assembling sandwiches. 棕色袋装午餐包括午餐肉和奶酪三明治和调味品, water bottles, fruit and dessert.
员工药剂师道利(Hiang Dawley)说,卡特科夫让志愿服务变得容易了.
“It was so well thought out,” Dawley says. “这创造了一种社区意识,我能够通过志愿服务结交朋友. It was such a wonderful opportunity for us to do more.”
道利说,她喜欢员工能以各种方式提供帮助.
“如果我们不能抽出时间,我们可以捐赠,”道利说. “这有助于确保我们看到我们所服务的社区,并赋予我们更大的目标.”
The first group moved like a well-oiled machine, 在大约一个小时内,用装饰好的袋子打包了201份午餐. 第二天,更多的志愿者把午餐装上车送出去.
Anne Langley, interim director of Charm City Care Connection, an organization that receives some of the meals, says the lunches mean the world to their clients.
“Food is essential,” Langley says. “It’s hard to do anything else when you’re hungry. 像这样一个稳定的项目非常重要,因为它是我们的客户可以信赖的东西, and it helps us reach them with other services.”
其他受益于“午餐团”的组织包括巴尔的摩救援团, the Grace Foundation, Manna House, Basilica Place and Living Classrooms Safe Streets.
药房业务经理泰勒·杜瓦尔(Tyler DuVal)贡献了她的时间来装饰午餐袋.
“We include positive quotes and fun drawings,” she says. “It’s a great volunteer project. It makes you feel good.”
药房业务经理雷切尔·霍尔索普也喜欢装饰袋子.
“I draw a design, and others color it in,” Holsopple says. “我喜欢我可以在工作休息时间做这件事,帮助别人的一天变得更美好.”
在接下来的四次活动中,每一次活动都是在犹太志愿者联系的定期午餐贡献者数量预计会因为假期或其他限制而减少的时候进行的. Events have been held on Labor Day, Thanksgiving weekend, 在犹太节日普珥节和复活节和逾越节的前几天. 大约有100名家庭护理集团的员工以某种方式参加了“一堆午餐”活动.
Ashley Manning, 温伯格门诊药房的药房业务经理, 他说,“一堆午餐”是一次有趣的志愿服务机会.
曼宁说:“这很随意,我们谈论了工作之外的事情。. “It was a good opportunity to put faces to names. We got to see people play to their strengths.”
曼宁说,她很高兴自己的工作时间是灵活的,这样她就可以帮助送午餐了.
“I enjoy the moment of transaction,” Manning says. 他们非常感谢你,并让你知道他们是多么感激你的帮助. 我很高兴你能以其他方式捐款,而不是金钱上的. Donating your time is just as worthy.”