Happy 2012, everyone! Coming out of what proved to be a rather extended holiday season, I spent much of the last month eating. I tried new food while traveling cross-country on a road trip and enjoyed long-time favorites when I found myself celebrating the new year with family and friends in the Chicagoland area. I feel blessed that I had so much choice when it came to my eating- what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat- and simultaneously recognize that many people in our community don't have the same luxury.
While I was home, my mom let me know about an opportunity to serve at the JUF Uptown Cafe. JUF is the Jewish United Fund/ Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. According to the JUF website, "The JUF Uptown Cafe is Chicago's first kosher anti-hunger program for the needy. In addition to providing hot meals in a restaurant-style setting, the JUF Uptown Cafe program brings dignity and hope to people in need. The JUF Uptown Cafe feeds Jews and non-Jews alike and is open three days a week for dinner and on Sundays for brunch." And while all of that is accurate, I would argue that the JUF Uptown Cafe is so much more (both to its guests and its volunteers).
From the moment that I entered the cafe, I was completely charmed. The way that the room was set up was warm and inviting. Imagine your favorite diner with place settings around the table- enough for you and your family or friends. There were decorations on the walls, but the emphasis was very clearly on the guests who would fill the seats when the doors opened.
I joined a group of several other volunteers of all ages- some who had volunteered before and some who were newbies (like me!) Among the group of volunteers was my mom (Lanie), my friend (Benjamin), my mom's best friend (Merle) and Merle's husband, son and family friend (Bob, Joey and Ashton). We got a quick pep talk and tutorial about how the cafe ran, put on our aprons and dove right into our work as waitstaff.
Unlike many other food service operations, the JUF Uptown Cafe is run like a restaurant. Guests come in and take a seat at their favorite table and are encouraged to order from a full menu of beverage and food options. While some of you know that I've worked in food service before, I would be lying to say that keeping up with rotating guests wasn't a bit of a challenge! But, fortunately, my co-server (Maddie) and I had incredibly gracious guests who were quite patient with us.
When things slowed down for a moment, I took a step back. I noticed that something really beautiful happens around the brunch table. There were complete strangers sharing a meal as if they had known each other for years. With bellies full of warm food on a cold afternoon in Chicago, people began to smile and share stories. In fact, we had so many bellies to feed that for one of the first times in JUF Uptown Cafe history, they ran out of food before there was an opportunity to call for seconds! I also took a moment to watch my mom and friends in action. Benjamin was chatting about movies with one guest as Merle was juggling a tray full of goodies with a giant smile on her face. But, probably most inspiring of all, was my mom. Though I happen to know that she was in a lot of pain (she suffers from foot, ankle and back problems), she worked right through it. She realized that for those two hours she was a part of something much greater than herself, so she lent a hand wherever she could. Way to go, Mom!
I would strongly encourage anyone who lives in Chicago to contact the folks at the JUF Uptown Cafe about volunteering.
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