We've been wondering what day it is all day and I think the consensus was it's Day 5 here at the Union Firehouse Grill. Circus and I arrived Tuesday night, at the end of Day 1 so hence it's Day 4 for us. The morning started with the bouncy castle arriving from Utica, NY. Yes, that's a bouncy castle. That's a thing to manifest! Next was awesome french toast and bacon by Ashi and Cheshire, our kitchen focalizers at 8am and served by Bruce, a local who has been coming to volunteer and serve for the past 2 days. We went on a Costco run for much needed produce with the U-haul and thanks to Hazlet Costco, got a free pass for the day to buy more supplies with the donations from our amazing community and the Rainbow Superstorm Sandy Response donations. We got some to-go containers donated from TGI Fridays and got back to the Firehouse just in time to see all the volunteers, food, and diners arriving in droves for our BBQ and Halloween party around 11:30am.
We served a good ol' fashioned BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, pasta salad, soda, and many home-baked goodies from locals. Yesterday a man and his daughter donated about 20 gallons of water and this morning they came back, with the wife, for a whole day of volunteering. Hannah, the little girl, went home last night and cleaned out her toy collection. This morning she donated three boxes of dolls and toys that she wanted other kids to have. (Don't think I didn't tear up when that happened!) While I helped to facilitate volunteer projects, take in donations, chat with diners, and play in the bouncy castle, etc, etc, Circus worked tirelessly to set-up our mobile kitchen for Day 2 of outreach.
When we set out on the road, a local volunteer, Lauren, came with me to cook grilled ham & cheese sandwiches and quesadillas from a propane burner (lent by the Reading Area Peace Kitchen) and cast-iron skillet, and we served them to people on the hard hit streets. One guy said that he had been too busy to eat all day and this was his first meal. Many grateful New Jersians (?) happily accepted hot chocolate and a brownie and a much needed break from clearing out the debris, flood damaged sheet rock and flooring. They were surrounded with volunteers and friends who had the day free.
We served about 75 meals off the truck and we're hoping for more tomorrow as we intend (with enough donations) to serve pork roll, the local delicacy. I've been told it's like many things, but I'll let you know what exactly tomorrow. Apparently you serve it with American cheese and a fried egg on a hard roll. We'll try to get enough of those into hands as we can with the help of Lauren, again, and her Dad. We had a guy creating a documentary come with us today.
So much has been done over the past 5 days and so much more is yet to come. Today was our biggest day so far, giving out over 800 meals and tomorrow is expected to be just as big. Check out Circus Maximus's facebook page for a video link and photos from the Union Firehouse Grill and our mobile adventures today. More tomorrow!
We served a good ol' fashioned BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, pasta salad, soda, and many home-baked goodies from locals. Yesterday a man and his daughter donated about 20 gallons of water and this morning they came back, with the wife, for a whole day of volunteering. Hannah, the little girl, went home last night and cleaned out her toy collection. This morning she donated three boxes of dolls and toys that she wanted other kids to have. (Don't think I didn't tear up when that happened!) While I helped to facilitate volunteer projects, take in donations, chat with diners, and play in the bouncy castle, etc, etc, Circus worked tirelessly to set-up our mobile kitchen for Day 2 of outreach.
When we set out on the road, a local volunteer, Lauren, came with me to cook grilled ham & cheese sandwiches and quesadillas from a propane burner (lent by the Reading Area Peace Kitchen) and cast-iron skillet, and we served them to people on the hard hit streets. One guy said that he had been too busy to eat all day and this was his first meal. Many grateful New Jersians (?) happily accepted hot chocolate and a brownie and a much needed break from clearing out the debris, flood damaged sheet rock and flooring. They were surrounded with volunteers and friends who had the day free.
We served about 75 meals off the truck and we're hoping for more tomorrow as we intend (with enough donations) to serve pork roll, the local delicacy. I've been told it's like many things, but I'll let you know what exactly tomorrow. Apparently you serve it with American cheese and a fried egg on a hard roll. We'll try to get enough of those into hands as we can with the help of Lauren, again, and her Dad. We had a guy creating a documentary come with us today.
So much has been done over the past 5 days and so much more is yet to come. Today was our biggest day so far, giving out over 800 meals and tomorrow is expected to be just as big. Check out Circus Maximus's facebook page for a video link and photos from the Union Firehouse Grill and our mobile adventures today. More tomorrow!
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