[Downtown Dharma Listserve] Volunteer opportunities with the Sangha - Loaves and Fishes

Dear fellow sangha friends, 

The topic of our last buddha brunch was "engaged Buddhism", and while we talked a lot about how to translate mindfulness practices into our work life and day-to-day experiences, we also agreed that an important way to carry the idea of lovingkindness and compassion into the world would be to engage in volunteer work together as a sangha. 

We discussed wanting to do a service-oriented project (not something political) and to be involved with the local community right around the sangha and where many of us live.  I've found a good opportunity volunteering with Loaves and Fishes, which addresses the issue of homelessness and poverty by providing meals to hungry and needy individuals. http://loavesandfishesdc.org/.   It is located at St. Stephen's Church at 1525 Newton St, NW DC. 

They provide weekly volunteer opportunities, and I've signed us up for two dates: Saturday March 22 and Sunday May 18 from 11am-2pm.  We will help set up the dining room and then serve meals: the work is primarily plating and serving food, restaurant style to each seated guest.  We can come with a group as large as 15 people; I'll take volunteers on a first-come, first-serve basis.   Please email me (danya.greenfield@gmail.com) if you would like to join and let me know for which date.  If you have any questions, let me know.  I'll post again when it's closer to the date. 

Thanks!

Danya

Some Background information about Loaves and Fishes:

Loaves and Fishes began as an outgrowth of St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church's practice in the mid-1960s of providing meals after Sunday services. When hungry nonchurchgoers began to appear in considerable numbers, the congregation launched a meals ministry and named the program Loaves and Fishes after the miracle described in the gospels. As Loaves and Fishes grew, other churches stepped in to help. We are now sustained by a partnership with 11 other churches, many of them in the suburbs, and diverse foundations, community groups, and individuals.

Our mission and goals are two-fold: to feed the hungry in our community and to educate volunteers and community members about hunger and homelessness. We are proud to serve a warm, healthy lunch to all who come to us without regard to their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religious affiliation, or lack of it. We invite you to join us, as a guest, volunteer, or financial supporter. Meals are available around noon on weekends and federal holidays at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Church:

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