Kitchen & Feeding Program

Due to COVID, we are constantly adjusting with updated information. 

• Maximum 4 people per group
• Masks required the whole time
• Volunteers socially distance from other volunteers, staff and clients
• Volunteers stay in the kitchen and cannot go into the dining room

The calendar for meals through the end of 2021 is below. Available high need meals (weekends and suppers) are in red, the rest of the available meals are in yellow. If you do not see a slot in a particular meal/day, it is not available. You can scroll to future months by clicking the arrow button to the right of the month. For more information or to book a meal, contact our kitchen staff at (704) 261-3491 or at Meals@UnionShelter.org.

Providing A Meal

The Community Shelter feeds approximately 75,000 hot meals a year at our Soup Kitchen. We provide a nutritional breakfast, lunch and supper to the community’s homeless and low-income residents, acting as a stop-gap for those without the ability to otherwise acquire food on a regular basis. We have no financial criteria for eating in our dining hall, so anyone with a food hardship is welcome – no questions asked.

Our staff is ServSafe certified, and we strive to maintain a healthy environment and serve a healthy menu.

Breakfast: 8 a.m.

Lunch: Noon

Dinner: 6 p.m.

We are fortunate to have more than 130 churches, civic groups, businesses and other organizations who provide and serve our meals throughout the year, but we always need more. To book a meal or for any questions, contact our kitchen staff at (704) 261-3491 or at Meals@UnionShelter.org.

Planning 

• Breakfast is served at 8 a.m. Lunch is served at noon. Supper is served at 6 p.m. Groups need to arrive by no later than 30 minutes before service time but can get there earlier to prepare. When you book a meal, you can set up what time you would like to arrive.
• The number of diners varies from 50 to 100, depending on weather and other intangibles. As your date gets closer, we will call you to confirm your serving date and time, plus let you know how many to prepare for.
• The kitchen is fully equipped; please contact us if you need to confirm specific equipment.
• Remember to bring all ingredients for your menu.
• Youth are welcome to assist in the meal service; however, due to liability issues children 18 and under require adult supervision.

Health Guidelines

Health, hygiene, and safe food service are very important to us all. These guidelines help to ensure that both you and our clients are safe.

• If a group member is sick, please have them stay home.
• Thorough hand washing is important. Wash hands after eating, blowing your nose, smoking, using the bathroom or after touching anything besides the food and tools you are working with.
• Head coverings (hats, bandannas, hairnets, etc.) must be worn in kitchen, (we furnish the hairnets).
• Food that will not be cooked further (bread after baking, sliced cheese, etc.) must be handled with disposable food service gloves or serving utensils. We provide gloves.
• Change gloves after touching anything other than the food you are preparing.
• You should clean food preparation surfaces with provided sanitizer before use, between preparation of different foods and during clean up.
• Raw meats should be kept separate from other items to prevent cross contamination.
• After raw meat is open on any surface, the surface should be thoroughly sanitized.
• Food at room temperature for three hours or more must be discarded.
• Anything washed in the sink or the dishwasher/sanitizer must be completely dry before being put away.

Additional Questions?

Please contact our kitchen staff at (704) 261-3491 or at Meals@UnionShelter.org.

Food Donations

The Community Shelter accepts food donations between 7:30  a.m. and 7:30 p.m. daily with the exception of meal hours (8 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.). Only properly handled and stored food will be accepted. Please bring donations to the “Donations” door, accessed from the back parking lot.

Thank you for your service and commitment to the Community Shelter of Union County.