Saint Thomas More Soup Kitchen

In 1984 a group of faculty and students got together to discuss starting a soup kitchen to serve lunch on Wednesdays. I imagine at the time that they hoped their efforts might be temporary; in the current economy they could not have been more wrong! The vision and creativity that surrounded that collaboration continues each week as we prepare to welcome over 250 guests to The Thomas E. Golden, Jr. Center. To see the enthusiasm with which talented Yalies debate over how best to prepare the pile of potatoes before them is a unique experience indeed! The most rewarding work though is witnessing the interactions that take place around this meal: the song requests a student takes as she plays the guitar during lunch; the proud smiles on the faces of the guests as they stand and sing with her and the kids dancing along with the beat; the generosity the guests show one another by carrying soup and an extra dessert; the mother who let me rock her three month old to sleep so that she could eat her lunch ... with 2 hands; all moments that glimpse the extraordinary in the ordinary moments. The laughter that fills our dining hall each Wednesday gives witness to our hope of providing a pleasant and respectful atmosphere for our guests. It has been our profound privilege to have known each volunteer and guest that has been a part of this project and we are grateful to you all! Student volunteers are always needed to prepare food, serve, greet and converse with our guests, make scarves and much more!