In seventh grade, a privilege we have is to take time to go to The Open Door Cafe and help serve food and drink to some people who aren’t as fortunate as we are. We go in groups of three from each class and it is a great experience. In the time that I went, my mom was a chaperone so we both had a lot of fun meeting the people and not only helping them, but also making new friends for the day.

This is how it works: the seventh grade votes on something to donate to people at The Open Door Cafe. Some examples are: toothbrushes, granola bars, toothpaste and many others that these people could really use. Our whole grade brings in these things and we collect them until the actual day of service. Three students from each seventh grade class are picked to go on the same day. As I said before, my mom was a chaperone so she drove one of the cars.

When we arrived it was truly very exciting. We were greeted by the people who run The Open Door Cafe and we hung up our coats. As we walked into the room where we would be working, I really liked it. It was a small room with many round tables everywhere. On the right side of the room was a counter with a little cabinet room behind it. That was where the food would be served onto the people’s trays. We made our name tags and got to choose between who would be pouring drinks or scooping applesauce. I scooped applesauce as my first shift and I really saw how special I was making someone’s day as they came in. I learned all of the workers names, and the man standing next to me in the food line and I got into a large conversation getting to know each other and I found out a lot about him. He told me that he used to live in Shorewood and I told him more about St. Robert’s. We soon switched jobs and I poured some drinks while talking to some people about their days.

Since it was lunchtime, we got to eat too and we all sat with the people also eating. All of us had different stories from the people we met and connected to personal things about them. The food was delicious and the people were all so kind. They loved our service and one lady who was so kind spoke to my mom and me personally and said, “You can come back anytime you like.”

I hope that you feel inspired to volunteer one day and maybe help out at The Open Door Cafe. Consider doing a good deed for someone you know or even a complete stranger.