Volunteering at the Jubilee Soup Kitchen:

Volunteer Opportunities
Qualifications
Training
How Often to Volunteer
Times to Volunteer
Transportation to Jubilee Soup Kitchen
Frequently Asked Questions

Jubilee Soup Kitchen volunteers benefit in a variety of ways from their experiences. Because you are using your talents to help other people in need, the immediate benefit of your work is seeing 150 people enjoy a meal that you helped prepare. Yet, more than completing a good work or satisfying an obligation, we invite our volunteers to see themselves as part of a larger community found only in places like Jubilee Soup Kitchen. Here, friendships naturally develop among volunteers, and a cohesive community emerges. That is why we, at Jubilee Soup Kitchen, encourage our volunteers, when comfortable, to extend themselves to our guests. We intend to feed more than only the body; we intend to feed the soul. When inclined, feel free to begin a conversation with our Guests. Verbal acknowledgements, handshakes, hugs and other expressions of friendship have a transformation affect on Guest and volunteer as well as our world.

Volunteering Opportunities:

Volunteers are mostly needed to help in the Jubilee Soup Kitchen with

• Preparing food
• Serving the noonday hot meal
• Cleaning up and washing dishes

Additional volunteers are needed for non-kitchen work in other programs of the larger Jubilee Association with

• Sorting and organizing canned goods at the Food Pantry
• Helping with childcare in the John Heinz Family Center
• Helping with tutoring in the Education Center

 Back to Top

Qualifications:

Doing the work of the Jubilee Soup Kitchen is important, but just as important are the contributions volunteers make to the fellowship and community of the kitchen’s staff, volunteers, and guests. A volunteer needs to:

• Treat guests and anyone who enters the kitchen with dignity and respect.
• Strive to be a valued member of the kitchen’s community who feels concern for the welfare of all.
• Be friendly, organized, and productive

  while doing assigned tasks.

 Back to Top

Training:

Most tasks are simple and do not require much training. If you are a new volunteer,

• Report to cook Butch Usher or David Betts or the volunteer in charge for the day.
• Follow the instructions and advice our veteran volunteers offer, on-the-job.

 

How Often to Volunteer:

Jubilee Kitchen is open 365 days per year, so volunteers are always needed. There are several options on how often to volunteer:

• One day per week
• One day per month
• On holidays or special occasions
• Whenever schedules permit

 Back to Top

Times to Volunteer:

Again, Jubilee Kitchen is flexible.

• Most volunteers arrive at Jubilee Soup Kitchen at 9:30a.m. and stay until 1:00 p.m. to help with all phases of the noonday meal.
• Some volunteers are only able to serve during their lunch hours, and they are also welcome.

 Back to Top

Transportation to Jubilee Soup Kitchen:

• PAT Bus service is available on the Fifth-Forbes Avenue corridor.
• Those who drive may park free in our lot or on Wyandotte Street.
• A map of the immediate area is printed below for your convenience. Click on the map to get directions.
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Where is Jubilee Kitchen?  The kitchen is located at 2005 Wyandotte St. off of  5th Avenue in the lower-hill district, mid point between Oakland and downtown Pittsburgh.

2. Is there parking available?  Yes, you can park your car near the kitchen.

3. How should I dress?  Dress is casual.

4. Is there an age restriction?  All volunteers are welcome from the age of 13 and up.

5. What should you bring?  Please don’t bring anything valuable into the kitchen.  Personal belonging should be kept in the trunk of your car or at home.

6. How many people will be there?  There are usually about 150 to 200 men and women served at the lunch hour.  Most of them are homeless.

7. What time does the luncheon start?  We offer a simple breakfast (coffee and rolls) at 9:30 a.m. Lunch is from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Volunteers should arrive around 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. to help set up and prepare the food.

8. What do they like to eat and how much?  The men and women at the kitchen are always graciously appreciative of our help no matter what is served and some have big appetites. A meat entrée, perhaps potato or pasta, a vegetable or salad, bread and butter and of course dessert can be included in the meal.  There doesn’t seem to be a formula for how much should be prepared.  “Suggested” serving sizes aren’t always trustworthy. 

9.  Do I have to clean up and wash dishes after dinner?  Not at all!  We have staff that does that on a regular basis.

10. How many volunteers can show up?  Single volunteers can just drop in.  We schedule groups of no more than eight and arrangements need to be made a head of time.

11. How can I get involved?  Call Sister Liguori  (412) 261-5417 to get things started or to ask any questions that didn’t make this list.

Back to Top