Service Learning ProjectBreakfast at Court Tower

Susan Bauer

Breakfast at Court TowerMembers of the Center for Living in Christ (CLIC) serve breakfast on the third Saturday of the

month for Court Tower residents.

The Center for Living in Christ has a mission to serve those in our community who often go

without basic needs.

Many of the individuals residing at Court Tower are not able to cook for themselves and on

weekends meals are not served. For many of these people, this breakfast is the only hot meal

they will have all weekend.

On the third Saturday of the month we met at 8 AM in the kitchen at Court Tower to prepare

breakfast for anyone wanting a meal.

Preparation included wiping down the tables, setting up the serving and steam tables, and

cooking breakfast.

Breakfast was served at 9 AM, cafeteria style. Residents who were not able to serve themselves

were served at their table.

We spent time visiting with the residents as we prepared and served the meal, often we made

take-home boxes for those who would like to have food later in the day.

After the residents had finished eating, we cleaned up before going home. We were usually on

our way home by noon

One of the residents offered to help with the cleanup, as his way to thank us for making the meal.

Ready to Serve

Pastor Luke, Dianne and Matt in the Pastor Luke, Dianne and Matt in the backgroundbackground

Working with Others to ServeAlthough we had the same core group each month, there were others who would just pop in from

time to time. I was always surprised by the people who would come to help serve.

My pastor’s wife was a blessing, she prepared many of the foods on Friday evening so that

Saturday morning most things able to be prepared very quickly.

I found that working with other people, it is best just to go with the flow. There are always people

who like to take charge or like things done in a specific way. I found what works best for me is

asking what I can do to help.

We had the blessing some weeks of a young man who has cognitive disability, he liked to come

and help cook. He seemed to feel accepted and enjoyed serving and being part of our group

.

Breakfast at the Court

All in All….It’s about Serving

Whenever people work together there is bound to be misunderstandings. But

when all is said and done, it is about serving others.

There are very few mishaps during my experience serving breakfast a Court

Tower. Occasionally something would be left out of the bins and an emergency

call would be made for coffee, plates, cups or a coffee maker.

There was only one incident when I was not sure how the meal was going to come

together. Pastor Luke and Dianne were not able to be there and for some reason

this was not communicated to all of us. There was some tension, but we managed

to keep our focus and the meal was served without the residents ever knowing

there was any issue. But quite a few people asked, “Where’s Pastor Luke?”

Another time one of the residents took it upon herself to tell someone who had

come from another HUD apartment building that he was not welcome. Pastor Luke

smoothed things over with both people, so that it was understood that this was an

“All Are Welcome” event.

Serving Others

Meditating on the ExperienceDuring my time serving breakfast at Court Tower there were some things that

really made an impact on me.

I noticed just how much our being there and giving our time meant to the

people living at Court Tower.

One of the elderly ladies was invited away for a weekend, her daughter said

she turned it down because she knew we would be there for breakfast.

One of the ladies who uses a wheelchair gave a money donation every time

we were there.

A lady I helped pack to move last year when the building was remodeled would

always stop to say hi to me. We connected because it turned out we are the

same age!

The biggest thing I took away from the service learning project is that it is the

small things that make a difference in people’s lives.

Serving the residents of court tower made an impact on this community by

reminding people that they are care for.