Great Food
Weekly volunteer opportunities to support our low-income neighbors and
people experiencing homelessness.
VOLUNTEERING
Tuesday Soup Kitchen
Safe space for socializing in the courtyard, sit-down dining, access to rest rooms, and a charging station. Volunteers prepare meals beginning at 3:30pm. They distribute meals from the Food Pantry and provide support for socializing from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.
To volunteer for the Tuesday Soup Kitchen, click here.
Thursday Food Pantry
At Thursday Food Pantry, volunteers distribute bags of food designed for people who are unhoused as well as for people living in the neighborhood with access to kitchens. Volunteers prepare the bags on Wednesdays from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, and we distribute on Thursdays from 8am to 9am.
To volunteer for the Food Pantry on Wednesdays or Thursdays, contact Cathy Helm at catherinehelm2424@gmail.com.
Thursday Cookfest
Beginning at 4:30pm and ending at 6:30pm, volunteers prepare hot dishes for Friday and Saturday Soup Kitchen. No experience necessary. Lead volunteers provide aprons and guidance, volunteers provide energy and creativity.
To volunteer for the Thursday CookFest, click here.
Friday Soup Kitchen
We provide safe space for socializing in the Parish Hall and the courtyard, including sit down dining, access to rest rooms, charging station, an art table, and lending library. Volunteers begin food prep around 2pm. Buffet line opens around 3pm until 5pm.
To volunteer for the Friday Soup Kitchen, click here.
Saturday Soup Kitchen
At Saturday Soup Kitchen, volunteers begin setting up at around 8:30am. We provide safe space for socializing, including a buffet line for breakfast and lunch, a clothing distribution shed, quiet space for napping, board games, music, a lending library, bathroom access and a charging station. The event concludes by 1pm.
To volunteer for the Saturday Soup Kitchen, click here.
Please note that during the week, our food ministries share the campus with our school. For the safety and security of the children, we ask that you have a government-issued ID ready to present to the security team upon arrival. During this check-in, your ID will be scanned and a live background check will be performed.
DONATIONS
Clothing
We welcome clothing donations.We can most easily receive donations on Saturdays between 9am and 1pm in the parking lot. To arrange for other delivery times, contact our Great Food team at GreatFood@STJLA.org.
We maintain an Amazon Wish List, located here. The Wish List allows you to purchase donations that will be shipped directly to Soup Kitchen. The Wish List also provides a good idea of the clothing items most useful to those we serve. We update the Wish List regularly.
We rarely see children and encourage you to make donations of toys and children’s clothing to Alexandria House, a shelter for women and children located near St James’.
Financial Support
We welcome financial donations in any amount. Your donated funds help with purchase of supplies for meal preparation, serving and distribution supplies, and professional cleaning services. We also provide occasional emergency transportation and other support for those we serve.
To donate to Soup Kitchen programs, click here.
To donate to Food Pantry, click here.
If you see someone in need, please feel free to print out and distribute this sheet below.
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity
conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
St. James’ Church and its food ministries are an equal opportunity provider.