Having grown up a member of Central Presbyterian Church, the Bashor Night Shelter has been a part of my life about as long as I can remember. For the past several years I’ve helped as the Trainer on Saturday nights and occasionally stay overnight.

As a Trainer my role is to work with the street crew (the volunteers who admit the guests) and cleanup crew (guests who help open and close) to ensure that things go smoothly and to help when they don’t. Mostly I make sure that the meal is delivered and overnight volunteers show up. I work to support the volunteers to ensure they are comfortable with their duties and to train them on the procedures as needed.

This role is great for me as I get to meet our wonderful volunteers, many of whom I see several times during the season.  I get to know our guests a little bit throughout the season, especially the cleanup crew.  To top it off, sometimes I get to share a lovely volunteer-provided meal with the guests and discuss the woeful Falcons or topic du jour.

When possible, I bring my two teenage daughters with me to help out and be reminded as to how lucky we are to have a home where so many others struggle just to survive.

I've always been impressed and amazed that a purely volunteer-led organization can provide a safe, hospitable, warm place for our guests to get a meal, shower and a night’s rest. I'm proud and humbled to play a small part in providing what is a crucial service to the 70+ men who rely upon it during the winter months.  The Shelter supports our guests in their efforts to function and survive in an increasingly brutal world – no small thing and I consider myself fortunate to be a part of it.

Sloppy Joes/Done in the oven

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

1 deep full sized foil pan

4 lbs ground turkey

4-15 oz cans Manwich (or any) Sloppy Joe sauce

20    hamburger buns

1.      Place the turkey in the foil pan. Break apart

2.      Cover with foil and put in the oven. Check at 20 minutes; continue to break up the turkey.

3.      After about 30 minutes the turkey will be brown. Drain the turkey and completely break up into small pieces.

4.      Add the Sloppy Joe sauce. Put back in the oven for another 15 minutes to heat through.

5.      Serve on hamburger buns.

Tater Tots

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. You can heat the tater tots at the shelter. You will have time.

1-8lb bag tater tots

deep full sized foil pan

1.      Empty the tater tots in the pan.

2.      Place the pan in the oven. Follow the directions on the bag. Check for browning and doneness.

Canned Corn (or Green Beans, or Butter Beans, or whatever veg you want)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

1 deep full sized foil pan

1 #10 can corn (6.6 lbs)

1.    Place the corn in the foil pan.

2.    Warm in the oven for approximately 15 minutes. The corn is really good if you allow it to get a little color on it.

Canned Peaches

1 deep full sized foil pan

Large colander

1 #10 can peach halves (6.6 lbs.)

Drain the peaches well in the colander. Serve a few halves per person.

Drumsticks Ice Cream Treats  (VERY Popular!)

These come 16 per box at Sam’s club and offer a nice variety.