It was a frenzied scene in the Salvation Army’s Miami kitchen during the annual “Jewish takeover.”
At least a dozen people could be seen chopping, grating, frying, and baking on Christmas morning. And almost everyone there was volunteering their time, allowing the regular staff to spend the holiday with their families.
“A lot of us don’t celebrate Christmas with the Jewish Federation, so we have the opportunity to come and donate our time on a day that’s really important to people in need and it’s the best way to give back,” stated organizer Loni Paige.
The residents received care packages when they walked in for lunch, and were told not to get in line as they would be served at their table.
It’s all about providing dignity with their meals.
You could see from the smiles that the residents were grateful for the special Christmas Day meal. It’s a two-way street. The volunteers gain as much as the Salvation Army’s clients.
“Christmas is a very special day for people around the country, many people in the city of Miami, so just being able to come, serve them, and to really help others makes it special to me,” said college student Matthew Lewis.
Salvation Army Major Gene Hogg was homeless as a child. Now he works for the organization which came to his rescue, and appreciates this outreach from the Jewish community.
“So personally, it resonates with my heart, but as an organization, we can’t do what we do without volunteers who love the people that we love,” Hogg said.
“It’s so important, on behalf of the Jewish community, to have dozens of volunteers here today being part of the fabric of our community, it’s really part of the work that we do,” added Scott Kaplan of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
This isn’t a new thing, the Jewish Federation has sponsored this event for 15 years. From day one, chef Gary Lampner has been in the kitchen, preparing the meals.
“Complete joy, look forward to it every year,” Lampner said. “My father was raised in an orphanage in New York City and the Salvation Army was the only organization that really cared about the kids.”
So Lampner pays it forward, with a menu featuring holiday classics like turkey, stuffing, and sweet potato pie, along with a side helping of generosity and love.
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