Kent church seeks volunteers to help serve dinners to the homeless

Kent Lutheran Church is looking for volunteers to help serve its weekly Kent Community Supper to the homeless.

Since the beginning of COVID-19, a small volunteer team has distributed boxed meals at the church’s outside entry. But the church plans to restart its indoor meal at a date to be determined in May. The supper will be offered from 5 to 6 p.m. each Monday at the church, 336 Second Ave. S.

Positions to fill:

• Cook: Decides the menu, makes sure all ingredients available and directs the helpers

• Cook’s helpers: Assists with meal preparation

• Set up: Sets up tables, puts out flatware

• Greeter: Ask diners to sign in before entering

• Inside rover: Walks around inside, talks to people, monitors the room

• Outside rover: Walks around outside, picks up trash, talks to people, monitors the grounds

• Server: Serves the food

• Kitchen runners: Carries food out, bring empty pans in, kitchen tasks

• Scraper: Scrapes plates for dishwasher

• Dishwasher: Runs commercial dishwasher

• Dryer: Dries, counts, puts away dishes

• Hand washer: Washes pots and pans

• Dryer: Dries pots and pans.

• Take down: Washes and puts away tables and chairs, sweeps floor

How to volunteer

To sign up or for more information, call the Kent Lutheran Church office at 253-852-2057 and leave a message for Emily Bumpous with your name, phone number and email.

Volunteers can sign up to serve every Monday or choose a week of the month to assist.

Kent Lutheran has been serving meals to the homeless for 39 years. Prior to the pandemic, about 120 to 140 people were fed each Monday, according to church staff. During COVID-19, about 70 to 80 people have shown up for the boxed meals. The church uses donations to pay for the meals.

Medical and dental trailers provide care every other week in the parking lot across the street from the church.