Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling Needs Volunteers in 2022
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WHEELING -- The presents are unwrapped, the tree is coming down and those at the Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling hope the spirit of giving continues into 2022.
The number of those giving their time as volunteers typically dips during the winter months.
"Volunteers are always in need," said Laura Mendoza, executive assistant at the soup kitchen. "January is kind of a long month for many people.
"The major holidays are over, and the season of giving has ended. So January is kind of a tough month. We're always looking for volunteers — especially at the first of the year."
Groups and individuals are anxious to volunteer during November and December, but the volunteer schedule becomes thin after the new year starts, she explained. That is also when the nights grow longer, darker and colder.
The soup kitchen needs at least five volunteers a day, according to Mendoza. They serve and help prep the food.
The soup kitchen has as many as seven workers, in addition to workers supplied through the National Council on Aging and other organizations.
"It's hard. The season of giving is over," Mendoza said. "It's a long month, and with winter setting in there's the winter blues and stuff… Once January rolls around everyone is done volunteering.
"We try to do special things in January, just to break it up a bit. We have a little more fun, and a friendlier environment."
There are food giveaways, with food patrons taking home such items as pork shanks and bacon the week before New Year's Day.
The soup kitchen customers even play games as a group while they eat lunch in the dining room. The customers are asked to wear masks in the dining room, but they remove them when it comes time to eat. Pork and sauerkraut were scheduled for the New Year Dinner at the soup kitchen.
Volunteering is actually a good way to beat the post-holiday blues, according to Mendoza.
"It's a fun environment," she explained. "We always try to make it a fun and happy environment."
Some regular volunteers come in once a week, while others come once a month. And church groups and other organizations are always welcome to send groups of volunteers who want to volunteer together.
"We'll find jobs for them," Mendoza said. "When we have groups, it's a good opportunity to get some extra things done that we don't normally get done when we have a limited staff."
The soup kitchen serves an average of about 250 to 300 meals each day. The number varies based on the time of the month, with more meals being served during the last week as many customers await Social Security and other assistance checks.
There is no age limit on who can volunteer, but those under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Small jobs have been found for children as young as age 2 at the soup kitchen.
The social environment at the soup kitchen is important as a lot of the customers want to see "different faces" from those in their daily lives, according to Mendoza.
"What some customers come in for isn't just food, but to be social," she said. "They really like to meet new people. That's what some customers come in for, is to just be social. There's the benefit of a hot meal and a nutritious meal, but there is also the socialization. It kind of dispels the loneliness for a little bit."
Volunteer hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for lunch Monday through Friday, and for children's dinners from 3:30 p.m. to about 6 p.m. each Wednesday.
Those wanting to volunteer should contact the soup kitchen at 304-233-2992.