Meal Guidelines
General Information
Included on this page is everything you need to know about preparing a meal for the guests of the Central Night Shelter. Look for openings on the Sign Up Genius Volunteer Calendars. Should you still have questions after reading this information, please contact Sue Briss, suebriss@bellsouth.net or 678-570-3262, or Jessie Bashor, jessie.bashor@gmail.com or 404-291-3865.
Arrival
If you are making and/or serving a meal, plan on arriving by 6:00 p.m. Keep in mind the Atlanta metro traffic and leave yourself plenty of time for an on time arrival. If for some unforeseen reason you are not going to arrive by 6:00 p.m. please call Sue Briss or Jessie Bashor.
Central Presbyterian Specifics (more procedures here)
• Plan to serve approximately 76 (70 guests + 6 overnight volunteers).
• When making a main dish in large foil pans anticipate that you will need FOUR or FIVE
• An ice machine is located adjacent to the kitchen
Catholic Shrine Specifics (more procedures here)
• Plan to serve approximately 35 (30 guests + 5 overnight volunteers)
• When making a main dish in large foil pans anticipate that you will need THREE
Facilities and Equipment
Both kitchens have a convection oven, industrial size stove, icemaker, and plenty of accessible pots and pans. When lighting the Shrine stove you may need a lighter to ignite some of the burners. There are two lighters located in the kitchen utensil drawers. To light the Shrine oven, open the kick plate at the bottom of the stove and follow the instructions.
Also available for your use are 9 inch plates, 8 oz cups, 12 oz bowls, plastic ware knives, forks, spoons, and napkins. Salt, pepper, hot sauce, decaf coffee, sugar, and creamer are in stock.
Dinner preparation time is very limited (6:00–7:15). Therefore, it is essential that meals are pre-cooked and that meal preparation is limited to reheating food (with the exception of vegetables and salads, of course!). There is inadequate time for cooking from scratch.
In order to keep privileges at both sites we must remember to:
• Make sure everything is clean before you leave, including countertops, sinks, and floors. The CleanUp Crew will take care of cleaning the space, but please wipe off the counters before you leave.
• Due to limited refrigerator space, you must take leftovers home. We suggest you keep serving food until it’s all gone. If you have an entire pan of food leftover you may leave it in the refrigerator, but please be sure to leave a note in the volunteer book so that we know to use it.
Plan to serve dinner at 7:15 each night except for Wednesdays, when we serve by 7:00 to allow access to the Foot Clinic. Following kitchen clean up, your group is free to leave. This is usually around 8:15-‐8:30 p.m.
Meal Hints
1. A basic meal consists of a salad/vegetables, bread, and a main dish. Extra vegetables, fruit, and desserts are optional. Provision of milk/juices is appreciated but optional. The shelter provides coffee and water for each guest; members of the shelter Clean Up Crew will make the coffee/fill water pitchers. If you have a large group and would like to take care of these duties on your own please let Sue or Jessie know and we’ll pass the word along.
2. Consider that you should double a normal recipe serving to equal a man-‐size portion. For example, “Serves 8” will really feed 4 of our guests.
3. Please note that we have several guests (probably 8-‐10 at Central and 4 or so at the Shrine) whose religious practices prohibit the eating of pork products. In addition, we have a few vegetarians. If your main dish contains pork please add extra portions to your side dishes for these dietary needs.
4. When bringing fruit remember that hard fruits are difficult for many guests to eat. Consider bananas, oranges, tangerines, raisins, canned fruit, or even juices.
5. Large aluminum foil pans are ideal for transporting and heating food.
6. Plastic trash bags are ideal for transporting salad greens.
7. Large coolers are ideal for transporting, keeping hot, and serving out soups or chili. Just clean out the cooler thoroughly, line with foil (if you wish), put food in it and cover tightly. At mealtime, just open, scoop, and serve!
8. Foods like meatloaf and lasagna must be thawed prior to reheating. Make sure this is the case if you are preparing food provided by others.
Main Dish Suggestions
Fried Chicken Macaroni and Cheese
Ham, Greens, Black Eyed Peas (with or without ham or another meat) BBQ
Sloppy Joes
Turkey with Dressing
Read Beans and Rice (with/without meat) Hot Dogs and baked beans
Chicken or Turkey potpie Chicken and Dumplings
Chili, beef stew, or a hearty soup (nave bean, black bean, lentil) with corn bread/muffins Meatloaf
Spaghetti / Lasagna
*If your main dish contains pork, please consider bringing a small amount of an alternative main dish for our guests who do not consume pork (or add extra amounts of your side dishes)
This list is just to get you started. Anything you can think of that is hearty, filling and plentiful, will work just fine. Be creative!!
Sack Lunch Guidelines
• The Central Presbyterian location requires 140 sandwiches. (The 6 guests who serve on the Clean Up crew appreciate extra sandwiches, perhaps 1 extra each or an extra lunch. This extra effort is not required and you should only provide extras if you wish)
• The Catholic Shrine location requires 60 sandwiches. (The 4 guests who serve on the Clean Up crew appreciate extra sandwiches, perhaps 1 extra each or an extra lunch. This extra effort is not required and you should only provide extras if you wish)
• The lunches should be delivered to the shelter between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. in the evening. Bring your lunches on the date for which you’ve signed up; they will be distributed the following morning.
• A basic lunch consists of 2 sandwiches. You are encouraged to add other items such as chips, juice, water bottles, soft or canned fruit, etc. to round out the bag.
• When preparing the sandwiches for lunch bags, please do not use mayonnaise. Use mustard or a little bottled dressing so the sandwiches keep better. You may also provide individual packets of mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise in each lunch. They can be purchased in bulk at warehouse clubs such as Costco or Sam’s Club. Allow two packets of each for each sandwich.
• Please do not make sandwiches with peanut butter. Some of our guests have peanut allergies.
• If you are making your lunches at the shelter please remember to bring your own brown bags. The supply at the shelter is for shelter use.
Sack Breakfast Guidelines
• The Central Presbyterian location requires 70 breakfast bags. The Shrine location requires 30 breakfast bags.
• Like sack lunches, breakfast bags should be delivered between 6:00 and 7:30
p.m. in the evening. Bring your breakfast bags on the date for which you’ve signed up; they will be distributed the following morning.
• Items that work well in breakfast bags include hard boiled eggs, muffins, doughnuts, breakfast bars, fruit cups, cheese snacks, juice boxes, English muffins, etc.
Volunteer Procedures
(Central Pres)
(NEW!) Before you arrive at Central Night Shelter, get the code to open the 2 new gates. The Street Crew Person should open the walkway gate and close it at 7:15 pm after all guests are in. The driveway gate will automatically close at 7:15 pm. If anyone needs to get out with the gate shut, simply drive up to the STOP HERE line and the gate should automatically open.
6:00 pm Arrive at Central Night Shelter. Ring the outside doorbell and the Street Crew Person will let you in. If you park in the Central Presbyterian Church alleyway, you must not block access to the dumpster.
NO SMOKING is allowed in the Shelter by anyone at any time. And no food is to be given out ever to people coming to the door.
No weapons allowed for guests or volunteers.
The Street Crew Person will let in the Clean-Up Crew to disinfect and set out the mats and to set up tables and chairs.
Make decaffeinated coffee in the large pot. Directions: Use two large packs of coffee (or 2/3 of a 39 oz. can). Fill water to 80 cups. Plug in and turn on.
Find the fire extinguisher and the emergency exits.
Replenish sugar and creamer jars and salt and pepper shakers.
Familiarize yourself with the Guest Sign-In Book and the Volunteers' Register Book. Fill in the Volunteers' Register Book information for tonight. The Street crew will check the men in, and may ask for assistance
Set both door alarms at the “3 o'clock” position.
Set out mats for at least the same number of Guests who were at the Shelter last night. The Trainer will show you how to position the mats.
Set the dining area (tables and chairs, napkins, plastic ware, ice water or tea, salt & pepper, hot sauce)for supper for Guests, plus the overnight volunteers, trainer, cooks, and any other guests.
Replenish the bathrooms and showers: toilet paper, soap, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, deodorant.
Elect (or appoint) a Captain of the overnight volunteers. Decide on stay- awake shifts for the night.
7:00 pm The Street Crew Person will admit the Guests. Station a volunteer at the door to welcome the Guests and to help him/her with any problems.
Working with the street person, Write each Guest's name in the Guest Sign-In Book. Note Clean-Up Crew members (maximum 6). Note any special wake-up times and where that Guest will be sleeping.
Do not let any Guest in before his name is recorded in the Guest Sign-In Book.
TUESDAYS Bring Blue recycling container down stairs
7:15 pm The Street Crew Person will close the shelter for the night. No guest is to be admitted after 7:15 pm for any reason. Do not answer the outside bell which rings in the kitchen, unless you know that volunteers are arriving late or that sandwiches are being delivered on the first Monday of each month.
Ask the Guests for a volunteer to ask the Blessing. Eat supper with the Guests. 8:00 pm _
After supper, clean the tables. Put away all food, except any extra desserts. Make sure all ovens are OFF.
After the supper crew leaves, lock the elevator door so no one can leave from the fourth floor (except by the stairs). Guests should not leave after supper. Please record their names
When Guests are finished showering, wash and dry the towels (including the kitchen towels) , then lock the door to the showers. Guests are not permitted to wash their personal clothes in the washing machines. * = The Clean-Up Crew normally does this task. Just make sure that it gets done.
8:30 pm Lights out, except for the TV viewing area near the elevators.
Prepare bagged combo breakfast/lunches for the Guests. If available, pack extra food in the lunch bags for the Clean-Up Crew.
11:00 pm Turn off the TV. If there is a game on, wait until it is over. The overnight volunteers may want to leave the TV on all night, with the sound turned off.
____ am Volunteer shift change.
____ am Volunteer shift change.
____ am Special wake-up time for Guest.
2:30 am Make fresh coffee. See directions above.
____ am Special wake-up time for Guest.
5:00 am Lights On.
Unlock the fourth floor elevator door and station a volunteer (or two) on the first floor in the lobby. As each Guest exits the elevator on the first floor, hand him a bagged breakfast/lunch. Once a Guest exits the elevator, do not allow him to go back upstairs.
6:00 am All Guests, except the Clean-Up Crew, should be gone.
Supervise Clean-Up Crew: Maximum five inside: mats put away, floors swept and mopped, bathrooms and showers cleaned, dining area cleaned and tables and chairs put away, trash taken out. One outside: trash and cigarette butts picked up around the Church. Give lunch to Clean-Up Crew as they leave.
Volunteers must leave the kitchen and volunteer suite (upstairs) clean.
6:30 am Close all windows. Turn off all lights. Lock all doors, except kitchen and main door (see next item).
Here’s the trick to getting out of the locked building! Leave the fourth floor elevator door lock in the “on” position (the lock outside the elevator), but lock the first floor elevator door (turn the lock outside the elevator to the “down” position) with the door open. Get on the elevator and go back to the 4th floor. Then put the Shelter keys in the key holders in the kitchen, lock the kitchen and main doors behind you as you leave, get on the elevator, and exit the building. (If you forget to leave the keys, bring them back TODAY!) Later
Call Ana to report any problems. See phone numbers below. Have a nice day. And THANK YOU for volunteering.
Phone Numbers
Emergency: 911 (Your location is Central Presbyterian Church Night Shelter, 201 Washington St., corner of Washington St. and MLK, 4th floor)
Central Shelter: 404-601-3144 Shrine Shelter: No phone service.
Ana Bailie (Shelter Director): Cell: 404-754-9361, do not use 404-373- 8486
Heather Hunter ( vol. Coordinator) 404 276 6910
Sue Briss (Food), Cell: 678-570-3262
Colleen O’ Rourke Cell: 404-277-3752
Kathyrn Masters 404 867 3628
Gateway 404 215 6600
Excused absences – any guest requesting an excused absence needs to tell the Street Crew member so it gets into the computer system. Overnight volunteers can no longer write notes in the sign-in book – e.g., “M. Brown will be out tomorrow and back the next night.” The Street Crew and Trainers will need to make announcements to the guests because this will be a change from last year.
Also DO NOT LET ANYONE COME IN LATE, unless it is documented.
Because the keys to Central were lost twice last year, overnight volunteers will need to be reminded not to leave until the keys are placed back in the kitchen (not rely on the clean-up crew to do it).
Revised 11/07/2016
Volunteer Procedures
(the Shrine)
6:00 pm Arrive at Shrine Shelter. The Street Crew Person will let you in.
No weapons allowed for guests or volunteers.
NO SMOKING is allowed in the Shelter by anyone at any time.
The Street Crew Person will let in the Clean-Up Crew to disinfect and set out the mats and to set up tables and chairs.
No food is to be given out ever to people coming to the door.
Make decaffeinated coffee in the large pot. Directions: Use one large pack of coffee or 2/3 of a 39 oz. can). Fill water to 80 cups. Plug in and turn on. (Note: You do not have to make fresh coffee in the morning.)
Find the fire extinguisher and the emergency exits.
Replenish sugar and creamer jars and salt and pepper shakers.
Set out mats for at least the same number of Guests who were at the Shelter last night.
Familiarize yourself with the Guest Sign-In Book and the Volunteers' Register Book. Fill in the Volunteers' Register Book information for tonight.
Set the dining area (tables and chairs, napkins, plastic ware, ice water or tea, salt & pepper, hot sauce)for supper for Guests, plus the overnight volunteers, trainer, cooks, and any other guests.
Extra supplies are in the storage room. Ask the Street Crew Person for the keys and the location and combination for the lockbox where you will leave the keys in the morning. If you need any supplies you can’t find here, call Central Shelter.
Replenish the bathrooms and showers: toilet paper, soap, shampoo, razors, shaving cream.
Elect (or appoint) a Captain of the overnight volunteers. Decide on stay-awake shifts for the night.
7:00 pm The Street Crew Person will admit the Guests. Station a volunteer at the door to help him/her with any problems.
Station a volunteer near the parking lot door and the kitchen door until 7:15 pm to prevent anyone letting in an unregistered Guest through these doors.
Working with the street crew, Write each Guest's name in the Guest Sign-In Book. Note Clean-Up Crew members (maximum 6). Note any special wake-up times and where that Guest will be sleeping. Hand out towels to those Guests wanting to shower.
Do not let any Guest in before his name is recorded in the Guest Sign-In Book.
7:15 pm The Street Crew Person will close the shelter for the night. No one is to be admitted after 7:15 pm for any reason. Do not answer the door after 7:15 pm.
Ask the Guests for a volunteer to ask the Blessing. Eat supper with the Guests.
8:00 pm After supper, clean the tables. Put away all food, except any extra desserts. Make sure all ovens are OFF. Some of the Guests like to step outside for a smoke break after supper. Make sure the ones coming back are the same ones who went out.
After the Street Crew Person is through for the evening, use two volunteers for safety and lock the two gates between Central Presbyterian Church and the Shrine Rectory. After the dinner servers leave, close and lock the parking lot gate.
When Guests are finished showering, wash and dry the towels, (including the kitchen towels), then lock the door to the washer and dryer. Guests are not permitted to wash their personal clothes in the washing machine.
* = The Clean-Up Crew normally does this task. Just make sure that it gets done.
8:30 pm Lights out, except for the dining area.
Prepare bagged combo breakfast/lunches for the Guests. If available, pack extra food in the bags for the Clean-Up Crew.
11:00 pm Turn off the TV in the dining area. If there is a game on, wait until it is over. The overnight volunteers may want to leave the TV on all night, with the sound turned off.
____ am Volunteer shift change.
____ am Volunteer shift change.
____ am Special wake-up time for Guest. Name___________ Mat location:__________
____ am Special wake-up time for Guest. Name___________ Mat location:__________
5:30 am Lights On.
Unlock the parking lot gate.
Station a volunteer (or two) at the parking lot door. All Guests must exit through this door. As each Guest leaves, hand him a bagged breakfast/lunch.
6:00 am All Guests, except Clean-Up Crew, should be gone.
Supervise Clean-Up Crew: Maximum four inside: mats put away, floors swept and mopped, bathrooms cleaned, dining area cleaned, trash taken out. One outside: trash and cigarette butts picked up around Shrine. Give bagged breakfast/lunch to Clean-Up Crew as they leave.
Volunteers must leave the kitchen and volunteer suite (crypt) clean. ASSURE THAT GAS for the STOVE IS OFF
6:30 am LOCK ALL DOORS and turn off all lights.
Leave keys in the lock box. (If you forget this step, bring keys back TODAY!)
Later Call Ana Bailie to report any problems. See phone numbers below. Have a nice day.
And THANK YOU for volunteering.
Phone Numbers
Emergency: 911 (Your location is Central Presbyterian Church Night Shelter, 201 Washington St., corner of Washington St. and MLK, 4th floor)
Central Shelter: 404-601-3144 Shrine Shelter: No phone service.
Ana Bailie (Shelter Director): Cell: 404-754-9361, do not use 404-373- 8486
Heather Hunter ( vol. Coordinator) 404 276 6910
Sue Briss (Food), Cell: 678-570-3262
Colleen O’ Rourke Cell: 404-277-3752
Kathyrn Masters 404 867 3628
Gateway 404 215 6600
Excused absences – any guest requesting an excused absence needs to tell the Street Crew member so it gets into the computer system. Overnight volunteers can no longer write notes in the sign-in book – e.g., “M. Brown will be out tomorrow and back the next night.” The Street Crew and Trainers will need to make announcements to the guests because this will be a change from last year.
Also DO NOT LET ANYONE COME IN LATE, unless it is documented.
Because the keys to Central were lost twice last year, overnight volunteers will need to be reminded not to leave until the keys are placed back in the kitchen (not rely on the clean-up crew to do it).
Revised 11/07/2016