Courtesy Photo Community members are seen enjoying a meal at the Friendship Room. The Friendship Room serves meals six days a week.

ALPENA — Christina Kihn, director of the Friendship Room, says that the soup kitchen is in desperate need of volunteers.

Kihn is the director of the All Saints Center of Charity, which houses the Friendship Room, serving free meals to community members from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Kihn explained that the soup kitchen is in need of more volunteers who are able to stand for up to two hours, help prepare meals, and wash dishes.

“With the amount of work we do in the kitchen, we have a shortage of people that can do that work,” Kihn said.

Kihn stated that the soup kitchen serves 80 to 100 meals a day. She explained that meal preparation Monday through Friday is from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. On Saturdays, food preparation is from noon to 2 p.m.

“We do cleanup for about an hour after food service is over,” Kihn stated.

Kihn said the Friendship Room needs volunteers who can lift pots and pans and stand for extended periods of time. She also stated that they have a job for anyone who wishes to volunteer and will accommodate no matter their limitations.

“We always accommodate individuals … we always have something for someone to do,” Kihn said. “We are just asking anybody and everybody … help where you can.”

Kihn stated that food preparation is not as physically taxing as serving or dishwashing is for individuals because they can sit while they cut up vegetables, meat, et cetera.

In total, the Friendship Room has one head cook on staff and the rest of the soup kitchen operations are run by volunteers, according to Kihn. The soup kitchen needs four individuals for service and four individuals for food preparation each day it is open.

Kihn stated that volunteering at the Friendship Room is a worthwhile and valuable experience for anyone who wants to make an impact in the community.

“Every individual that comes into the Friendship Room is an individual in need,” Kihn said. “They are coming in for food or for company … by giving your time … that value is immeasurable.”

Kihn said that there is no limit to the gratitude that individuals have for those who volunteer at the Friendship Room. She said that not only are you feeding someone, but you also become invested in their lives.

“You get to know them and their family … their hardships,” Kihn said. “You really get invested in the people that come in … because they are worth being invested in.”

Kihn explained that 80% of those that visit the Friendship Room are elderly or on social security. Many also visit the Friendship Room for connection, community, and camaraderie.

“Every person that comes in becomes part of my extended … they’ll become extended family to you as well,” Kihn said.

The Friendship Room leads every meal with prayer and treats each person with dignity, despite their situation.

“We don’t treat them like second-class citizens,” Kihn said. “”Even though they are with us for short periods of time, we improve their lives by volumes.”

Kihn said that even if one person in the community volunteers their time, the Friendship Room will benefit from their help. She explained there is a required, hour-long training online for volunteers, however, staff can assist individuals and they can complete the training at the Friendship Room.

Those interested in volunteering should call Kihn at 989-884-1060.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.