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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland kindergartners on track with letters, sounds ... Phone scam triggers bank robbery alarm ... Exit 24's northbound on-ramp will open Wednesday night ... Ashland kindergartners on track with letters, sounds ... Phone scam triggers bank robbery alarm ... Exit 24's northbound on-ramp will open Wednesday night ... ASHLAND RUNS ON VOLUNTEERS The weekly miracle of Uncle Foods Diner Comment By Mary Coombs DailyTidings.com By Mary Coombs Posted Feb. 9, 2016 at 7:14 PM Updated Feb 9, 2016 at 7:15 PM By Mary Coombs Posted Feb. 9, 2016 at 7:14 PM Updated Feb 9, 2016 at 7:15 PM » Social News Uncle Foods Diner (UFD), in cooperation with the First United Methodist Church of Ashland, has been providing community dinners for well over 20 years. The dinners are every Tuesday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Wesley Hall (behind the church building at the corner of Laurel and N. Main St.) They set out quite a feast: a wide array of nourishing and delicious foods. Guests include those in need of a hot meal — homeless or other poor folks, but anyone is welcome. And, as with any feast, along with the food there are conversations and connections among the diners that help create and sustain community. How does this happen? Under the leadership of Maren Faye — one of only two paid staff — with the sponsorship of Peace House, huge quantities of foods are collected and turned into meals by a crew of intrepid volunteers. Most of the food is donated, through Food Angels, the Ashland Emergency Food Bank, and some direct donations by farmers. People must then sort through the produce. (Imagine going through 50 pounds of Brussel sprouts, culling the over-ripe ones and trimming the others!) A menu is created, based on what is available, but always including brown rice, beans, vegetarian and meat soups, and an array of hot dishes, of fruit and vegetable salads and desserts. The food preparers are kept busy from 12:30 to 4:30 preparing all this. Bob, a long-time volunteer food preparer, said as they were all busily at work, “A miracle happens every week. It always, somehow, happens. And it happens really, really well.” The Methodist Church supplies the space and equipment for UFD; the food UFD prepares also goes to a Tasty Tuesdays meal upstairs on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, primarily for families with young children, which is staffed by church volunteers. The guests at the UFD community dinner (usually 100-150 per meal) can also take with them sandwiches that the food preparers make, whatever they want from the “free boxes” of foods that didn’t make it into that week’s recipes, and containers of any leftovers. UFD is always in need of take-away containers. They ask for Nancy’s Yogurt 16 or 32 oz. containers (clean, with lids). If you can, please drop these off at the Recycling Center on Water Street. In a lovely example of community and coordination, a whole range of other organizations and people offer services to the Tuesday guests. There is a mobile shower truck, health services from La Clinica, offerings of free clothing and toiletries and of a trained, sympathetic ear by the Listening Post. UFD Volunteers fill three roles. Food preparers do all the work to turn the donated food into meals. Servers then set the food out on tables and serve it to the guests, from 4:30-5:30, while the dishwashers wash and store all the dirty dishes for the next week (everything is served on real plates, cups and silverware). On any given day there are about 25-30 volunteers. Many come every week, but this isn’t essential. While I have spoken of “volunteers” and “guests,” these are not entirely different groups. Some of the regular volunteers also are or were guests. There is volunteer work to be done in all three roles. But as a new volunteer, you might start with dishwashing or serving. The food preparers are a tight-knit group, working in a fairly tight space. One person suggested that a newbie might well be assigned that crate of Brussel sprouts! If you are interested and want to know more, you can send an email to [email protected]. Or come for a Tuesday dinner and be impressed, as I was. And, volunteer or not, please do donate those Nancy’s yogurt containers!! Mary I. Coombs’ column on local nonprofit organizations appears every three weeks. Email questions and suggestions to [email protected]. By Mary Coombs DailyTidings.com By Mary Coombs Posted Feb. 9, 2016 at 7:14 PM Updated Feb 9, 2016 at 7:15 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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