The menu: (Minestrone) Zuppa, Lasagne, (Caesar) Insalata, Ortaggi (Vegetables), and ... Clementines.
The comments: Just like Mamma makes, Delizioso, Grazie!
The story behind the story: See the attached.
Buonanotte,
Cindy
Gently Does It
Dear Volunteers:
I must admit that I had an episode of writer's block trying to explain a disturbing incident last night. So our Volunteer Coordinator, Joanne Anderson Manishen, agreed to bring it into perspective. A female guest threw a clementine at one of our beloved volunteers, who was not injured, thankfully.
Joanne writes:
“One could educate our volunteers to turn the other cheek if this ever happened to them OR highlight the fact that the volunteer who was assaulted by this piece of fruit conducted herself in a very honourable, gentle and caring fashion by displaying true patience and understanding of a mentally challenged and perhaps frustrated/angry guest. Our volunteer was not offended in the least but I did observe that she was shaken a bit. It also alerted or reminded our volunteers to the stark reality that a number of our guests have arrived at our doorstep with mental health problems and to be aware of this fact for not only their own safety but also for the safety of our guests.”
A judgement as to the likelihood that the guest will be allowed to attend future OOTCs is being discussed.
Moving on. For the past couple winters, when my father was alive and coming for Shabbat dinner, he would bring a bag of socks or hats or gloves for OOTC. (BTW, he would have been welcome even if he came empty-handed!) But after Dad passed away at the end of the summer, we packed up his gently worn sweaters, boots, belts, socks and donated them to OOTC. This morning I gave away the last article to a very grateful overnight guest.
Kitchen preparation is swift and competent. For proof, just watch David Walman or Lou Rottman at work. They treat food so gently that the salad doesn't even know it's being tossed! (Sorry, guys, if this causes future ribbing.)
Last night, prior to the prayer, we announced that after dinner, people could look through the donated gently-used books. Many guests were thrilled with the wonderful winter reading. Thank you Wendy and Lorry Schneider for your gifts.
A lovely gentleman paused to thank us for the delicious meal. He said that the lasagna was so delicious that he had two pieces as long as there was more than enough to go around.
Gently: Considerately, tenderly, benevolently.
See you soon,
Cindy
Response:
Lovely story Cindy:
For many years Morley and I were foster parents for the Children's Aid
Society. We fostered 27 children, most of them teen aged girls, and now are blessed to have had two of the girls join our family and through them have 6 wonderful grandchildren. Come March 31, give or take a few days, we will become Great Grandparents.
However, the message I intend, is exactly as in your message. We need
tremendous tolerance for the mentally disabled. There but for very
fortuitous circumstances go many of us. Many women are still only one
man away from poverty on the streets. We know children are still being
abused and their psyche is damaged irreparably in many cases.
Thanks, again for your commitment and keep the newsletters coming.
Joan
Response:
Good evening, my dear Cindy and Lila.
I’m afraid I do not have much further to add for a positive spin on our fruit attack this evening to one of our beloved volunteers other than to reiterate what I mentioned earlier on in the evening to you. I sought my husband’s input and he was just too silly about it all (it must have been a tiring day for him) and he went into a complete Monte Python bit with the nearby props/fruit at hand.
Cindy, one could educate our volunteers to turn the other cheek (not literally of course) if this ever happened to them OR highlight the fact that the volunteer who was assaulted by this piece of fruit (I swear I have only had one glass of wine while composing this e-mail) conducted herself in a very honourable, gentle and caring fashion by displaying true patience and understanding of a mentally challenged and perhaps frustrated/angry guest. Our volunteer was not offended in the least but I did observe that she was shaken a bit. It also alerted or reminded our volunteers to the stark reality that a number of our guests have arrived at our doorstep with mental health problems and to be aware of this fact for not only their own safety but also for the safety of our guests.
One suggestion for the future: It might be a good idea to devote a section in our training manual as to how to defend yourself against projectiles such as fruit or other menu items. Do you think we should be issuing protective gear to our volunteers??? ;) Just kidding!
Take care, my dear.
You did a fine job this evening as always.
Joanne.
No comments:
Post a Comment