Ann Arbor Mother's Kitchen
There have been some changes for our Mother's Kitchen program in the last 18 months in both residents, shelter locations and how we provide food. We have worked with Salvation Army-run homeless shelters for over 25 years now and originally cooked Saturday lunch for up to 30 people at the Staples Family Center residence in Ann Arbor. The population decreased to 8-12 people by March 2020, but despite Covid lockdown, the need was still there.
We were permitted by the Salvation Army to continue with a no-contact lunch drop-off program consisting of cooked lunches and grocery items like fruit and juice boxes for the children. We have no physical contact with staff or residents and continue to follow CDC masking and safety guidelines.
One of our previous volunteer coordinators set us up on signupgenius so that our various members can choose a slot throughout the year and either make a meal donation and someone else can cook, or to sign up for both. Our members often will choose a date of an important family remembrance or event and donate and/or cook on that weekend.
We continue to coordinate with the Salvation Army program director to discuss the number of residents, ages, allergies and other preferences and shop and cook accordingly. Our current group are homeless veterans at Haven of Hope House and we use the same delivery system.
For more information about how you can join the team of MA Center Michigan volunteers, contact Kathleen Jefferson (kathjeff@gmail.com).