Karing Kitchen

Spent the morning at the Karing Kitchen today. My experience was....good. wonderful that anyone can go pick up bread and baked products after they are donated and delivered there, this morning there were about 8 tables of baked goods delivered from Sobeys, lots of stuff for people to take home. Norm works the floor and is really friendly and helpful. It seemed a bit like feast or famine to me, tons and tons of food and they say, then there may not be any. Today they had lots of volunteers, and I guess some days they don't have enough. I can see how it may be a difficult place for a youth to do community service hours as there isn't a lot of direction on what to do while there, I think it may be a bit intimidating for a teenager, although a great place to volunteer if you are a "take charge" kind of person. 

We served food from 11:00-1:00, which is the daily Monday to Friday hours for serving. The doors open for volunteers around 7:30-8:00am. This is also when anyone can come in and pick up some baked goods and if it is really cold or really hot outside, can sit inside and play cards or visit. 

 Things that volunteers may be asked to do: 

Serve hot or cold food during the lunch hours 11-1. 

 Serve tea and coffee during the lunch hours 11-1. 

Serve  juice and milk during the lunch hours 11-1. 

Help put desserts on plates for serving. 

Help unload the boxes of food delivered. 

Help unpack and lay out the food delivered. 

Peel and prepare vegetables and food for lunch. 

Clean tables, scrape plates and do dishes. 

Fill up water jug and juice cups for lunch time. 

 Phylis is the woman to get ahold of if you want to talk about volunteering or serving community hours. 854-3837

The lunch serving hours are very busy, Today we served people non stop for 2 hours. 

Aids Moncton~Needle Exchange

Had a visit with Debby Warren, executive director of Aids Moncton, today! 

What an unexpected "gem" I found. I had no idea that they offered so many wonderful services to our community. 

As the name implies, they are focused on harm reduction. They have a safe needle disposal and will dispense clean needles and supplies (such as cookers, needles, crack pipes, screens) to those in need. 

They also offer education to those who need it and to the community about disposing of a found needle and safe sex. 

Darlene is there to provide new, clean supplies and condoms and lube to those who need it, no questions asked. 

This is a safe, confidential place with caring, educated and respectful staff. They will direct clients to services needed within the community and advocate for services when necessary. They offer clean supplies, disposal, counsel, help and direction and a respectful shoulder if needed. 

Safe spaces is a program for youth LGBTQ that is partnered with the ymca. tuesdays at the ymca 7-9pm. You can call and talk to Sarah (director of this program) anytime. 

Bridgette is in charge of volunteer services if you are interested in donating of your time or skills. They also welcome donations of snacks and treats to give out. 

This place has so much more to offer than I could have imagined. They are open 8:30-4:30 Monday -Friday and summer 8:00-3:30.