Community Cafe: A White Hat Affair

When white coats and hats take over a kitchen, you know you’re in for a treat and that is just what the patrons and volunteers of October’s Community Café got.  As in 2012, the College of the North Atlantic sponsored October’s café.  Cooking students prepped and served up delicious soup, hearty sandwiches and a tantalizing taste-bud treat. In addition to those found in the kitchen, other students from the college’s Community Studies program gave of their time to volunteer at this month’s café.

Music provided by regular volunteer musicians, Lloyd Swyers and Francie Downey enticed a few, who just couldn’t pass on the toe-tapping melodies, to get out of their seats and entertain the crowd with their rendition of  a Newfie jig. Around the room, patrons offered support and energy by clapping and stamping their feet to the rhythm of the music and dancers.

As with all events there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, the Community Café is no exception. Planning and set-up for the Community Café takes time, patience and hard work. Since June, Skills Link participants have shown up bright and early on café day, eager to help in any and every way they can.  Instrumental in hauling tables, setting places, making sandwiches, serving patrons, doing hundreds of dishes and then taking it all down again, these five young people offer no complaints, only smiles.  As they prepare to finish their program in November, HSI and the Special Projects committee would like to extend them a heartfelt THANK YOU!  and wish them every success in their future endeavors and hope they will continue to join us on the second Thursday of each month at the Lion’s Club for another successful and fun-filled Community Café.

In addition to each café sponsor, many businesses and organizations support the café through volunteers, monetary and food donations.  Special thanks to each of you, including our partners, the Lion’s Club, Zion Pentecostal Church and Coleman’s Food Centre.

Hope to see you all again next month.  Remember to bring your appetite and a friend!