Volunteer Spotlight: Chico Unified Teachers Association
About this story: In the spirit of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25, 2020), True North Housing Alliance is recognizing some of our incredibly hardworking, dedicated volunteers.
The Chico Unified Teachers Association has been providing meals to Torres Community Shelter guests for almost a decade. Photo courtesy of Chico Unified Teachers Association
Many of our community members know that the Chico Unified Teachers Association has been a longtime sponsor of our Empty Bowls event. But the association also has been preparing and serving meals to our guests at the Torres Community Shelter for nearly 10 years!
At first, volunteers with the association would come out to do barbecues, Association President Kevin Moretti said. Once our shelter’s kitchen was completed, the association started cooking and serving a meal once a month.
Kevin is now known as “the lasagna guy,” he jokes, because the association typically cooks and prepares a meal of lasagna, bread, salad and milk.
Even though we have changed our operations temporarily during the pandemic, Kevin and the association have continued their long tradition of supporting our guests. Kevin now drops off the ingredients for the meal at the shelter, and the guests in our vocational meal program prepare and serve it.
Here’s what Kevin had to say about the Chico Unified Teachers Association’s efforts with True North.
What makes volunteering with us enjoyable?
I like your guests that I work with in the kitchen. Some of the guests are there to help when I can’t find a lighter or get the stove going. Those guys are awesome. For me, that’s a highlight. They like to cook. I was sharing recipes with one guy. They’re fun people to hang out with, and share a common interest in cooking.
What do your association members like about volunteering with us?
It’s that whole feeling of giving back to the community. It makes the world a better place. For a lot of them, they’d see their students in there [when the shelter served families], and that was a pretty touching moment for them.
We want your help!
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve temporarily modified how we operate in order to keep our volunteers, staff and guests safe. However, we still need your help!
We’re looking for volunteer meal providers. You can donate pre-packaged (e.g., canned or boxed) foods or drop-off all the fresh ingredients needed for a meal. The guests in our vocational meal program will then prepare your generously donated items on-site in our kitchen.
Hygiene products are always useful! This includes items like shampoo, conditioner, soap/body wash, deodorant and lip balm.
Monetary donations also help us purchase these important hygiene items, as well as delicious, nutritious food for our guests.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at (530) 891-9048. Thank you so much!