I arrived early and quickly organized the pots, pans, and other essentials in preparation for our volunteers. To my surprise, the kitchen was missing three or four of the large baking sheets we typically use for the meatloaf. I managed to find two, but a bit of panic set in as I scrambled to locate enough pans—not just for the meatloaf, but also for cookies and bread.
Jerry, one of the house managers, noticed me rummaging through the cabinets and offered to help. The one place I hadn’t checked was the dishwasher—and sure enough, Jerry found one additional large pan and a few smaller ones inside. It was just enough to make everything work—but barely. I may need to check out the local Goodwill for some backup cookware.
Our cookie chef, Vernon Preston, arrived early and jumped right in, helping peel potatoes. Not long after, Mike Bisaga showed up and got to work dicing onions and bacon, then sautéing them. Doug Smedley, Bob Born, Bill Byington, and our newest FATC graduate, Wes Sebacher, all arrived on time and ready to help.
Since Doug had assisted before, I asked him to prepare the meatloaf under Mike’s watchful eye—he did a fantastic job. Bill and Bob took charge of the potatoes, boiling, seasoning, and mashing them to perfection, which freed Vernon up to focus on the cookies.
Of course, Paul Jacoby was there to help keep everything on track, and he brought along his grandson, Chase. A future FATC member, perhaps? What a great kid—he jumped right in and helped Vernon with the cookies. The two of them worked like a well-oiled machine. It was a joy to watch.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of joining Wes on his graduation trip and got to know him better. Doug, Wes, and I discovered we share a passion for cycling, and we had a great time chatting about the types of bikes we ride and our favorite routes.
We had a fairly light turnout at 6 o’clock, but the house staff mentioned that many residents return late from the hospital and are always grateful to find a hot meal waiting. Paul met a family and visited with them until 10 p.m. By the time he left, more than half the boxed-up dinners had been picked up. He returned the next day, as the family—which included a teenage girl undergoing treatment—had invited him back to meet more relatives and continue the conversation. Paul gladly obliged and really enjoyed connecting with this family. For those who know Paul, this comes as no surprise.
Later, Paul called to report that everything we’d prepared had been happily devoured.
We all sat down together around 6:30 to enjoy a meal. Afterward, we tackled the dishes—leaving the kitchen cleaner than we found it.
Mark your calendars—our next RMH meal prep will be on August 5th. A big thank-you to everyone who attended and volunteered!
—Ken Welter
