Our Monthly Center Serving Dinners

 

 

Our Center Serving Dinners are a tradition of The Center

In the begnining the same group of folks did each monthly dinner. Over the years many people wanted to get involved and so we have many clubs, faith communities, groups of friends that now participate in the Center Serving Dinners. Click here to see the groups that are doing the dinners this year.

Our philosophy when we started 17 years ago was to create a very special Sunday Dinner for the clients.  We have always used "china" plates and "silverware" avoiding the temptation to make it easier with paper and plastic. We serve the guests and take their plates away - they are treated like guests at our home.

There are some particular points we'd like always to pay attention to:

 

  • It would be great to provide a theme for the dinner. (i.e. summer barbeque, valentines, spring, etc. )

 

  • Please provide us with a menu two weeks before the dinner. In this way we can include an idea of what will be served  with the invite to the folks.

 

  • We will provide tablecloths and ask that the set-up folks put them on the tables.

 

  • We ask that you provide some flowers or centerpiece for each table - its best to count on six tables.

 

  • If you can provide some entertainment it would be great. We do have a recorder and at least a CD with appropriate music would do - dinner music or theme music.

 

  • If you can start the dinner with a group prayer it would be great - the guests enjoy and appreciate that.

 

We'll need people to take on particular tasks:

  1. Prepare the food - some groups prepare beforehand, at home. Others do it at The Center. The Center kitchen is well equipped.
  2. Set up the room for the guests: table cloths, centerpieces, etc.
  3. Welcoming the guests - each guest should have an invitation.
  4. Serve the food - we do not plate the food but have a buffet line and serve each guest as they come to the line.
  5. Serve beverages. We'd like to have people going from table to table serving beverages and refilling them.
  6. Packing up "meals to go" for the guests at the appropriate time.
  7. "Bussing" the tables  when folks are finished and bringing the used dishes to the kitchen dishwashing station.
  8. Packing up left-overs to be stored in the refrigerator/freezer for future use.
  9. Bringing garbage out to the dumpsters as needed.
  10. Cleaning up the dinning area and placing the tablecloths in the washing machine.
  11. Cleaning the kitchen so that it is ready for the next morning's activity. (It is best when using pots, pans, utensils to be aware of where they've come from so that they might be put back in the proper area.

 

The Center will provide the following:

 

  • Dishes, cups, glasses, silverware, serving utensils, garbage bags, ice.
  • Someone to run the dishwasher and to operate the coffee machine.
  • Someone to supervise the dining room - we restrict the dinner only to Center clients who have received an invitation. Our "supervisor" will help "screen" the guests if necessary.

 

 

If your group needs assistance in anyway please don't hesitate to let us know.  For instance if you feel you do not have enough volunteers to perform all the tasks we can get additional volunteers.