Neighbors taking care of neighbors

Monroe Temple volunteers are ready to prepare and serve Christmas dinner at Our Father’s Kitchen MONROE — Volunteers from the Monroe Temple will again be demonstrating the importance of doing a mitzvah - an act of human kindness - this weekend when they prepare and serve a home cooked Christmas dinner to those in need at Our Father’s Kitchen, the soup kitchen serving the area and based at Sacred Heart Chapel on Stage Road in Monroe. This year’s menu is a full dinner featuring meatloaf, mashed potatoes, string beans and cheesecake and chocolate cupcakes for the children. Whether diners are there because of financial difficulties or merely for companionship if they’re alone, temple volunteers have planned an afternoon of fun, relaxation and respite from all of the hardships and heartache they may be facing. “We see it not only as our duty but our honor to serve people in the community,” said Helaine Blumenthal, who is chairing the temple’s Christmas dinner efforts and is also a regular soup kitchen volunteer. “But this is sweet and special because it allows our Christian neighbors who do this (run the kitchen) all the time with so much love to have the day off with their families and not worry about the working of the kitchen, and provide a meal to people in the community who may need it for any variety of reasons.” The temple has been doing this for three years now and Blumenthal said almost 30 people will filter in and out of the soup kitchen beginning tomorrow when prep work and set-up begins as a prelude to cooking on Sunday. And on Sunday, for the first time, a trained temple volunteer will use the Sacred Heart Parish Community Outreach’s mini bus to pick up and transport people in need of a ride to dinner, so anyone without a car can still take part in the festivities. Santa will even be making an appearance and will have his crew of elves with him to spread merriment, Blumenthal said. He will be handing out gifts donated by many at the temple, from Sacred Heart Church and in the community. Blumenthal was thankful to members of Congregation Eitz Chaim in Monroe for their contributions toward the dinner, the Monroe Girl Scouts for their many decorations and other businesses and individuals who wanted to be a part of the effort. “All these treats help to make the day just a little bit more special,” Blumenthal said. “I’ve lived here for 28 years and other than raising my kids, this is the best thing I’ve ever done since I’ve moved here. The clients are delightful, the Our Father’s Kitchen people are wonderful. I’m just so glad they’re letting us do this.” - Nancy Kriz I’ve lived here for 28 years and other than raising my kids, this is the best thing I’ve ever done since I’ve moved here. The clients are delightful, the Our Father’s Kitchen people are wonderful. I’m just so glad they’re letting us do this.” Helaine Blumenthal, a member of the Monroe Temple who is chairing the temple’s efforts to plan and cook Christmas dinner at Our Father’s Kitchen Meatloaf for all The third annual Christmas dinner at Our Father’s Kitchen, prepared and served by members of the Monroe Temple, will be held on Christmas Day from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Anyone who is in need of a hot meal is welcome. Organizers already have reservations for 184 people. Reservations are requested by calling the Sacred Heart Parish Outreach Program at 783-7840. However, no one will be turned away.