Harbor House needs volunteer teams to feed shelter families

The women and children who come into Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter at Catholic Charities often do not know how their basic needs will be met. Meeting their need for safe shelter, food and clothing allows them to begin their journey to emotional and physical healing.

Harbor House staff works hard to meet all the needs of the survivors and their children, including providing delicious and nutritious meals. However, that has been challenging of late as the current job market makes it difficult to hire and retain a full-time cook to prepare weekday meals.

Weekday dinners through a meal train

That’s why Catholic Charities is looking to expand a meal train that began a year ago to provide weekend meals by finding additional teams that want to provide a weekday dinner on a quarterly or monthly basis.

“Taking a meal can really impact someone’s day. Maybe a resident or their children had a rough day, and they’re able to come back to the shelter and enjoy a wonderful, home cooked meal,” said Shauna Long, the volunteer coordinator for Harbor House’s meal train. “The residents, from what I hear, have expressed gratitude that they have a hot, nourishing meal and variety.”

“This is a great way for the community to get involved in a very positive way,” she added. Teams sign up to prepare and deliver a meal consisting of an entree, side dish and dessert for about 40 people.