ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Several times a month, volunteers with the St. Ambrose Society gather in the cafeteria of St. Ambrose Church on the Hill to prepare home-cooked meals for people in need.
The program began 10 years ago as a ministry for both the people it serves and the volunteers who take part.
“The St. Ambrose Society exists so we can live out the Gospel in our lives and in our neighborhood,” said John, a volunteer with the group. “We help the less fortunate.”
When the food is finished, it is loaded up and delivered to Gateway 180, described as Missouri’s largest family shelter.
Karen Klaus, the development and community engagement lead for the center, said the contributions from the St. Ambrose Society have a direct impact on the organization’s finances.
“We’ve been around since the ’70s, and we serve about 500 people annually,” Klaus said. “It really makes a big difference in our budget when people give us those kind of gifts and services.”
For the volunteers, the work carries meaning beyond the meals themselves.
“Getting together, being able to say a prayer for our community and knowing we are doing something good for other people,” one volunteer said.
Marissa, another volunteer, said the goal is to make recipients feel connected.
“That’s what we want to do — we want to show them that they are connected to their community, and give them the sustenance that they need,” she said.
John said the experience is equally meaningful for those who give their time.
“When I can get involved in something like this that helps another person, that’s very fulfilling and that’s what I need in my life,” he said.
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Dining and Cooking