1

Family Promise Office – 201-833-8009

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW – FAMILY PROMISE WALK IN DINNER PROGRAM

PLACE: Bergen County Housing, Health and Human Services Center (BHHHSC) 120 South River Street, Hackensack, NJ

CENTER TELEPHONE: 201-336-6475 OR 201-336-6480For Up To Date Numbers And QuickestResponse Email Mary Sunden atcccdcexdir@gmail.com

ARRIVE: between 3:45- 4:00 BE ON TIME. If you are going to be late, please call the Center at 201-336-6475

KITCHEN LOADING DOCK: The back door will be locked at 5pm!!Anyone arriving later will use the front entrance.

PLEASE do not ask guests to assist with bringing supplies in or outbefore or after dinner. The Friendship House Team is always ready to helpwhen needed.

DINNER SERVICE: 4:45-5:50 Latecomers Cannot Be Accommodated!!

HOW MUCH TO COOK?

130 Meals EXCEPT the first 4 days of the month when you should provide 100 meals.

For Up To Date Numbers And Quickest Response Please Email Mary Sunden At cccdcexdir@gmail.com

THERE IS ONLY 1 SEATING AND ONLY 1 SERVING – NO SECONDS (SEE PAGE 7)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE NEXT PAGE!!

2

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM HHHSC & FAMILY PROMISE

Please do NOT offer or serve seconds to the guests Under Any Circumstances.

While we appreciate your caring and generosity, this only leads to confusion and

difficulties for the guests, the staff, and other participating groups. We ask that you

please respect this important rule of the Dinner Program. If you have a problem

with any guests please see shelter staff immediately.

Volunteers are NOT to serve food to guests at any time in the dining room. All

food is to be served on the buffet line. Volunteers may be in the dining room only

to greet and hand out supplies, (example: plates, napkins) OR to put items on the

tables (example: cups, salt and pepper, pitchers of iced tea).

PHOTOS

We appreciate your participation at the Family Promise

Walk-In Dinner Program. We want to let our community

know about this great program and the wonderful volunteers

that make it happen every night of the year. You can help by

taking a photo of your group holding our new banner which

you’ll find on the shelf in

the back near the coat

rack. If you are willing, please email the photo to

mheller@bergenfamilypromise.org. for use in

public relations materials. We encourage you to

post the photo on your group’s website or

Facebook page. Please tag us at

facebook.com/bergenfamilypromise.

Please Remember The Need For Privacy And Confidentiality!! Limit Photo Taking To When Guests Are NOT Present. Before Dinner In The Kitchen Area Is Best!!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE NEXT PAGE!!

3

IF THE APRONS ARE SOILED PLEASE PUT THEM IN THE LAUNDRY BASKET FOR LAUNDERING.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE NEXT PAGE!!

UPON REQUEST ONLY BY GUESTS The shelter now has frozen vegetarian meals available.

Please see the shelter staff!!

4

(Do Not Count On There Being Backup Supplies)

PREPARED MEALS, hot dishes should be brought warmed and can be kept hot in the warming ovens.

THERE IS NO COOKING ON PREMISES

Individual Plastic Flatware Wrapped In A Napkin

Paper Plates Large And Small (150 Of Each)

Salad Bowls

Paper Cups For Hot And Cold Drinks

2 Lbs. Of Coffee 1 Dozen Tea Bags

Salt And Pepper (There Are 16 Tables) Individual Packets Or Shakers

Sugar In Packets Or Loose In A Bowl

Sugar Substitute Packets

2 Gallons Whole Milk (Please Do Not Use The Milk In The Refrigerator. It Is For Other Programs).

2 Large Canisters Iced Tea Or Juice Mix

2 Lbs Of Butter Or Margarine (Cut Into Pats For The Tables)

Paper Towels

Roll Of Aluminum Foil

Two Cloth Kitchen Towels (For Drying Pitchers Etc) Please Take These Home With You After The Meal

Serving Utensils As Needed For Your Meal

DISPOSABLE GLOVES FOR SERVING

Most Groups Bring Bread, Butter, Salad and salad dressing, Main Course (Meat, Starch and Vegetable) And Dessert. To Keep Things Running Smoothly, Please Limit The Choices. One Main Course Is Best.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE NEXT PAGE!!

5

Bring At Least 8 Volunteers But No More Than 12

Alcoholic Beverages May Not Be Brought Into The Shelter Under Any Circumstances!!

There Are To Be No Photos Taken Of The Guests. We Require Strict Confidentiality!!

Please Do Not Display Or Distribute Literature, Signs, Or Other Items Of A Religious Nature.

Children Under the Age of 14 Years Old Are

NOT ALLOWED At The Dinner Program!!

This Is A County Building And This Rule

Will Be Strictly Enforced!!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE NEXT PAGE!!

6

Turn on steam table and warming ovens.

Make coffee.

Count the number of guests served.

Facilitate the entry of guests.

Responsible for the cleanliness of the floor and tables after meal.

Staff will provide additional assistance when needed. Just ask!

Bring Food In Through The Doors By The Loading Dock

Place Hot Food In Warming Ovens

Check To Be Sure Steam Table Is On.

Make Certain Coffee Has Been Made In The Large Urn

Remember To Leave 1 Can Coffee For Use The Next Day

Make Iced Tea Or Other Beverage. Use Ice From Ice Machine

Place Plates And Plastic Ware Wrapped In Napkin On Long Table Near Entrance

Set Tables With Salt And Pepper, Cold Cups, And Beverage And Pats Of Butter

Slice Desserts, If Necessary, And Put On Plates Set Up Milk, Sugar, Sugar Substitute, Tea Bags And Hot Cups Next To Coffee Urn

Choose Appropriate Serving Utensils From Green Rack Near Sink

At The End Of The Meal, Volunteers Clear The Tables

Clean Kitchen, Counters, Sink Area And Steam Table, Including Food Shield

Wash Pitchers, Serving Utensils, Pans From Steam Table, And Trays From Warming Ovens And Return To Their Proper Places

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE NEXT PAGE!!

7

LEFTOVERS

Leftover Food May Be Left For Shelter Staff. They Are Very Appreciative. Please Read The Attached Policy Which Is Posted In The Kitchen As Well. Excess leftovers can be brought to the Hackensack Police at 225 State Street, OR the Hackensack Fire Departments at 205 State Street.

Extra Milk, Butter, Salad Dressing, Coffee, Condiments, Fresh Fruit, Powdered Drink Mix And Dessert Items Are Always Useful And Can Be Left Behind. Commercially Prepared/Store Bought Items Are Either Used In The On-Site Drop-In Program or Donated To Table To Table And Picked Up The Following Day.

Q & A from BCHHHC Director

Q: Why Can’t We Offer Second Servings Of Food?

A: The Dining Room is not large enough to accommodate everyone if people stayed for seconds. If people learn that they can get seconds at the end then they may not leave.

Q: Why Can’t We Continue To Serve After 5:50 PM?

A: We need to shut down the dining room to clean it up so we can open the shelter for people to sleep. Staff have a schedule to keep and structure is very important when individuals are homeless. Many people go right to sleep when the shelter opens up downstairs. We have, however, begun serving earlier to allow more time to eat (4:45pm).

Q: Why Does The Number Of People We Serve Change?

A: Individuals tend to run out of money later in the month and so our numbers go up. You can call up to a week before to get the most recent numbers so you can plan. You can call Mary Sunden at 201-336-6488.

Q: Why Are We Asked To Provide Fewer Choices At Dinner?

A: Offering too many choices causes the line to move very slowly and people get agitated and anxious towards the end because they fear that food will run out or they will not have enough time to eat. We recommend choosing one main dish (which can be made in a variety of ways) for everyone to prepare with your choice of 2-3 sides including salad.

Thank you so much for your generosity and kind hearted offerings. The Family Promise Walk-In Dinner Program is at the heart of our work with the community. Your dedication of time, talents and skills are the greatest gift and we are most appreciative! With gratitude, Julia Orlando, Director