Lunch Is Served
by Jason Strecker
Arundel House of Hope Volunteer/Staff 2008-2010
From the past to the present, a big key to the success of Arundel House of Hope has been the service of volunteers. There are a variety of ways volunteers can serve and support such as donating financially or with supplies, hosting Winter Relief weeks or teaching a seminar at our Day Center. One of the most anticipated acts of service has featured Solley United Methodist Church members serving lunch on the third Thursday of the month. Solley Church members have been supporting Arundel House of Hope for four years now, following us from our old “514” location to our new Day Center on Furnace Branch Road. What once started as a dream of the church members has become an important part of the history of Arundel House of Hope (AHOH). Most recently, our former Winter Relief and Day Center Program Director, Phil Bailey, has started joining us with serving lunch on Thursdays in the beginning of the month.
Photo Credit: The Baltimore Sun (Clarke, Elaina. “Ravens community quarterback award is ‘fantastic’ honor for Arundel volunteer.” The Baltimore Sun, November 18, 2012, https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bs-gl-good-works-ravens-1119=20121116-story.html)
Joined by Together volunteers Father Ed and Amma Trish, John and Yvette, Phil has started coming one of the first Thursdays of the month to serve his popular Sloppy Joes. Along with the sandwiches, Phil serves humor and history lessons as he connects with both clients and volunteers and staff. Phil has been serving in the homeless resource field since 1992, when Arundel House of Hope was originally founded as “Winter Relief for the Homeless” at his home church of St. Christopher’s. During the initial Winter Relief meeting of various local church members, Phil decided he would spend his life serving those in need. Approaching 33 years since that meeting, Phil is still strong in his service, returning to AHOH not just to support our clients but his best friend Father Ed, who holds Together 12 Step meetings in our Community Recovery Center. Right as the 12 Step meetings finish, Phil and Amma Trish set up food, Phil tells jokes throughout service, and everyone leaves happy and well nourished. After lunch is served, Phil meets with those he has mentored, like myself or Together volunteer and former AHOH staff member Yvette and also newer AHOH staff seeking to learn more. We all chat about the history of Arundel House of Hope and know a day like this is very special for all of us.
Phil’s partnership with Together volunteers, like Amma Trish pictured, ensures a positive experience for our clients during lunch time.
Along with Phil’s story, the history of AHOH cannot be told without the mention of some of our biggest supporters – the members of Solley United Methodist Church. Although a small church congregation, the Solley Church members bring all the love in the world to our clients when they come to serve lunch on the third Thursday of each month. In the early 2010s, Solley Church member Cindy and I started working together. We bonded over me being a former staff member of AHOH along with my activities in the homeless resource field. Each time we worked, we would talk about homelessness and the needs of the community. Around this same time, church member Delores had befriended Karen Biagiotti, a longtime AHOH volunteer and Winter Relief co-director, who Phil chose as his successor for Winter Relief and Day Center Program Director. At the time, Karen was working for Anne Arundel County as a homeless outreach coordinator. Delores, Cindy and other church members started to gather donations to give to Karen to provide to those living on the streets and in the woods, but they wanted to do more. They had an idea of hosting dinners at the church, but transportation was a problem. Karen knew the perfect place to serve would be at the AHOH Day Center. With Karen’s mentorship, the third Solley Thursday lunch event was born.
Delores and husband Dave share a special moment during a Solley lunch.
For four years now, Solley church members have dedicated their time and resources to supporting their cause. They faithfully come each Third Thursday of the month to serve food and share love with clients, volunteers and staff and so many others. For lunches, they serve a full course meal with entrees, sodas/waters, snacks, salads and desert. For Thanksgiving Thursday, they bring a traditional family feast which is fitting, as the Solley Church members are not just volunteers but they are a part of the Arundel House of Hope family.
Solley Church volunteers get into the holiday spirit. In this photo we see Debbie, Linda, Ramona, Reggie, Gessica and Cindy ready to serve
Those who serve in the homeless resource field come from many different backgrounds. Some start as college interns or volunteers with AHOH and go on to become staff members, working as case managers or program aides. Other volunteers may be inspired by their church hosting a Winter Relief week. When I was in my mid 20s, Phil heard of my interest in homeless advocacy. He invited me to come and start as an AHOH volunteer and then work as staff. That was an incredible experience and I am honored Phil guided me then and still gives me guidance now. Men and women like Phil and the members of Solley United Methodist inspire me personally. They serve as an inspiration to so many others, of what can be done to help those in need of meals, clothes, shelter and especially friendship. I write of stories like theirs to share inspiration to those thinking about finding a way to help or serve in the homeless resource field. If you’re reading this and have a dream to help, now is the time for you to achieve that dream. Come serve with us!
