Category: OSS

Cooking up some soup…

~ Denise ~ 2 Comments

In  case you were wondering about Operation Soup and Smokes, particularly with my new part-time job, there have just been a few minor timing adjustments needed.  I am thankful that I can still help.  It has forced me to measure some ingredients though, for more accurate instructions to the second Chef.  (usually I’m a ‘dump it in’ & ‘taste it’ when it comes to soup.)

Usually I would start a pot of soup or something around 7:00-7:30 a.m. so that it would be ready to go downtown by noon.  Now I begin around 6:00 a.m., have the soup or beans and rice, or whatever else is on the menu started before I leave at 8:30 a.m, and then Craig finishes supervising and adding any last-minute ingredients (i.e., rice) before he takes it downtown to serve.  (Here is where the measuring comes in handy, my dashes, and put a little of this or that, wouldn’t really be helpful)  Everybody has been pretty happy with the results, so he must be doing a great job!

The beginnings of a spicy sausage vegetable soup.

They serve usually between 150-200 people weekly, most times running out of food.  Craig dishes out the soup (or whatever else we’ve made), Susan usually provides meatballs (a big hit as you can imagine) and then Carolyn brings her famous cornbread.  Usually someone will step in and help serve water.  Often Chuck will have Craig swing by his apartment and pick him up so that he can go downtown to help serve.

Funds have been low for  a while so the two cigarettes have not been distributed.  Any funds have gone towards needed food supplies and the paper products first.  For those that were  wondering about the number of people coming just for the occasional cigarettes and not because of hunger, that question can be answered by the continued high turnout.  When you are hungry, you are hungry.

There is still a need.  Homelessness is still a problem.

We are thankful for the other groups that feed the homeless at the park on the days that we are not there, and the facilities that are available.  Cooler evenings are upon us, and the shelters are open.  Not everyone though utilizes them.

As we sit down Thanksgiving day, let’s all try to think how truly blessed we are, and also say a prayer for the homeless.

Happy early Thanksgiving everyone!

Monday Monday

~ Denise ~ 3 Comments

Mondays are a busy day around here.

After the usual morning cat dance, I get up to prepare some sort of soup or meal that Craig takes downtown to feed the hungry souls that gather at Finley Park for OSS.

Last Christmas, Craig presented me with a gift certificate for some watercolor classes to rekindle my painting that I have not done since the late 70’s (I know, but I’m serious).  The classes proved to be a refreshing drink to my creative soul, and for the meantime I have continued to take them.  However, the class time starts before I could get back from downtown, so that is one draw back.

While I miss seeing the folks downtown, I am still able to continue to prepare the food, and so we are able to serve and be part of this blessing together.

There are over 200 people coming to the park now, which has greatly increased from when we originally started.  Craig says there has been an increase in the women that are coming through the line.

Since OSS has started, some of the friends we’ve meet have been blessed by homes,  jobs, marriages, and children.  Dawn & Ernie are employed and have housing.  Chuck is in permanent housing.  Levi is married and has a child.  (Chuck, and Levi will often come to the park to visit or assist, a sort of pay-it-forward).

Yes, there has been some that have been imprisoned or returned to prison.  Some have disappeared.  We have known some that have been attacked, and at least one that has died.

Today was an especially rainy day.  Everyone was pretty wet today.  The rain doesn’t care if you have a roof over your head or something to eat.  People can care though.

Regardless of rain or shine (& even the occasional southern snow) every Monday this is our routine right now.

And we are blessed for it.

Monday Monday don’t go away.

OSS Reflections

~ Denise ~ 2 Comments

Today’s visit to the park was more crowded than I thought it would be.  But, we were blessed to have enough food to feed everyone in line!  That is something that is always amazing and you know is God’s hand at work!  While we are serving  I was watching as the line kept growing and growing.  Then I’d see a lid close on a pot, meaning it was all, and I’d look and I’d see more homeless getting in line.  God is good though, for somehow all the “first timers” were served and we still had some left over for a  little of seconds.  When we get down to the last bowl, we often talk about how it reminds us of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish in Matthew 14:17-21.

Usually it is after all the serving, while we are cleaning up, that someone will stick around, hang out, perhaps have a cigarette, and then maybe talk a little about how things are going on and what is new with them.

When talking with one of the guys today about the life lessons he has been learning, this was his pearl of wisdom:

“Just because there is an open door or window to go through, doesn’t mean God opened it.” – Ed

Think about that.  Think about your life choices.

I know.    W.o.W.     Right?

I know there are many doors and windows that I’ve walked through God didn’t open. Then usually after I was there, crying out to God, He reminded me He was there all along…if I would just turn toward Him.  And then I would need to be reminded, again.  Sometimes, again and again.  Sigh.

Ed’s words are a reminder to be seeking His will first before we decide whether or not to go through those open doors and windows.

Well said Ed.

December OSS Update

~ Denise ~ 2 Comments

Patrecia in Bulgeria has been patiently waiting for me to give an update on how OSS has been going, so really this post is a long overdue one for her.  🙂

The OSS (Operation Soup and Smokes) crew have continued to go to the park every Monday to serve the homeless, regardless of the weather or the Holiday for over a year now.  We have a new helper who have joined us within the last month or so by the name of Susan and her cooking has been popular!  🙂  We are really happy to have her with us!!

Currently we estimate we are serving between 150-200 a week.  There are some weeks when there aren’t as many.  But usually, we easily have averaged over 120 a week for quite a while.

There are a few of the regulars that had moved into Transitions that seem to be doing well.  Some have moved out.  The winter shelters are now open so there is more activity on the streets.

We’ve seen many different people come and go, however; we haven’t seen the number of homeless shrinking.  In fact, it is growing.

From talking to those we meet and learning their stories it might surprise the casual observer to know that they probably encounter a homeless person more often than they realize.  Mention the words homeless person and  you envision a person in multiple layers of clothing, dis-leveled, often reeking of alcohol or sleeping on a bench or a ex-con with a drug problem.  I mean isn’t that the vision that was always portrayed for us?   Yes, today’s homeless has some of that; but more often you have circumstances that have some living in their cars, lost their jobs, can’t find a job,  some working part time jobs or any jobs they can find but still not able to afford a place to live.  Some have had a major illness that financially left them homeless.  The reasons for being homeless are unending it seems.  There are men, women and children living on the streets, shelters, tents and cars.

It can be discouraging at times when you look at the whole problem, but it is also so rewarding to be a part of just showing people you care.

All of us know that there are those who will and have tried to take advantage of us – that is on them.  We will still serve.

All of us know that there are those that pass in front of us in the serving line that are going to try to get off the streets, mess up and end up back on the streets again.

Doesn’t stop us from encouraging them to keep on trying.

Personally, I’m so glad Jesus didn’t/doesn’t give up on me for all the times that I screw up!

That’s the least we can do.

Oh, and give them a little something to eat.  🙂

PS:  If there is someone that I’ve mentioned in any previous posts that you are wondering about, please comment and let me know.  I will reply and let you know if I know anything about them.  Thank you for keeping all of us in your prayers!

OSS Finlay Rhapsodies

~ Denise ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday we were treated to some musical entertainment!

We were finishing serving the last of the food and cleaning up when the the acapello strains of Amazing Grace could be heard.  What a treat!

We told the guys they sounded great.  One said, when God blesses you with a gift, you need to use it!  Amen to that!

I asked if they had a name for their group yet.

They came up with one on the spot:

Finlay Rhapsodies

So I’d like to introduce to you: Willie, James & Willie, the Finlay Rhapsodies!

Finlay Rhapsodies – Willie, James & Willie

We were blessed to hear them at their opening performance!  Craig, thinking quickly, caught some of the final chords on his phone.  (I’m was hoping that I could attach the file for you to enjoy here, but sorry, right now I’m not purchasing the space upgrade to do that.)

I heard them saying “you never know who you bless with your music” and then discussing what they might sing later.

I’m certainly anxious to hear what they will sing next.  🙂

OSS Kitchen Pondering

~ Denise ~ Leave a comment

Well the beans are soaking here for tomorrow’s New Orleans style red beans and rice to take down to the Park, and I know that Keith and Rebecca have either finished their grocery shopping or getting what they need for  spaghetti , plus Carolyn’s probably has her cornbread finished already.  There are others that help with food, paper products, monetary donations, clothing, hygiene supplies, and their help is greatly appreciated!  However, my mind is in tomorrow’s “kitchen duty” right now so please don’t be offended if your name(s) weren’t mentioned!

Lately, we have been serving @ 150 people at the Park.  I know that because I tried to take some sort of count last week to verify what we thought we have been serving.

That was interesting…….Count while trying to talk to people.

I came up with a system.   That is if you want to call it a system…….well, at least I am.   I’d mentally count off 10 people, visually try to take a “snap shot” of that person, and take an empty cup and put it in a pile.  Then when that person came up to the drink station, I’d start over again. (It worked for the most part.) 🙂  So, allowing for the occasional person that wandered in and out, and also allowing for the times that I would talk and forget to count, it put us around 145-150.

Originally we thought that when the Transitions facility opened that we would see less traffic.  So far that has not been the case.  The other thing we noticed that while we do see some familiar faces that occasionally stop by and visit, for the most part we are serving a completely different group of people.  Some have been homeless for a while, we just haven’t seen them before, and some are recently homeless.  They are just beginning to slowly talk to us.

I can give you some update on a few I’ve mentioned in the past.  Chuck has had some recent tests done on a tumor on his knee that he is awaiting results on.  He’s moved into the next stage of Transitions housing and seems to be doing well there.  Sophie & Trey stop by once in a while to say hello they tell us that they want to make sure that if they are okay for that day food-wise, they let someone else that might be hungry get their share.  John pretty much does the same thing.

I’m not exactly sure how many of the guys are staying up at Transitions and still stop down and visit us on Mondays.  We enjoy seeing them, it gives us a chance to catch up on each others lives. They still need our help as far as we’re concerned.  The lunch they get at Transitions is a light lunch if they eat there, and they enjoy the home-cooked food we serve.  Personally, we think it’s the company!  🙂

I was surprised to hear one of the guys say that some of the area churches were actually telling  them that they couldn’t eat at their “soup kitchens” if they were staying at Transitions because they weren’t considered “homeless” anymore.   I thought that was really a sad statement.  The whole point of the facility was to give the homeless a place to get on their feet and to assist them as a community along with the support of the community.

I don’t find that being Biblical.  Just saying.

Maybe that’s why it seems to be taking a little longer to build up trust.  I don’t know.

Then I’m reminded I don’t need to know the “why’s” and the “what not’s”.

I just need to do what I can.

Show His love.

So, soak on beans……