By Eli Winterfeld
Published in December 2015
“Everyone wants a revolution…but no one wants to do the dishes”
This quote, made popular by writer/activist Shane Claiborne, rings all too true in our current society. It is a beautiful metaphor and holds literal truth as well.
I know I often get caught up in grandiose ideas of how I fit in “the revolution” and forget the small acts of generosity, love, patience (and hard work) that truly are the foundation of leading a life focused on strengthening our community.
Doing the dishes, literally, is a very important part of the good work of St. John’s Kitchen. It can sometimes be a difficult role to fill because it is fast paced, dirty, wet and tucked away from sight. This role often receives much less thanks than it deserves. You would think I am trying to talk folks out of taking this role. Quite the opposite, I am simply conveying what a generous gift and a crucial part of the community this role is.
There are many more ways to participate at St. The Kitchen than washing dishes. Helping at St. John’s is being a part of a community. Francesca’s article above describes the spirit of the space.
Volunteering here is organic and fluid. We do not have a formal application process or a particular schedule that volunteers must maintain. We want people to be able to participate in the community in a way that is comfortable and many people find the loose structure freeing.
The group of folks that help here is very diverse: Among this community are retired people, students completing hours, patrons who notice that something needs doing or do a certain task as part of their daily routine, young people wanting to learn about the community and the work, people who work part-time or are unwaged, folks completing community service hours and some individuals even come for an hour a week during their lunch break from work. Every person’s participation is a wonderful gift and we are deeply grateful for every person’s time here.
Another mini revolution is with the new dialogue and conversation we are hosting with volunteers at The Kitchen to talk about roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes. We want volunteering at St. John’s to be more than the tasks that keep it operating. It also means participating in open, equal conversations about how we, as a community, want to see the space continue to develop.
St. John’s Kitchen is a mix of beautiful, wild and real. Calling one and all that wish to live “the revolution” by doing dishes, cooking, serving, cleaning and building relationships.
