Meals are served at approximately 7:00 pm. We provide paper plates, and utensils, and we can provide beverages unless you would be providing that. We suggest preparing for 40-50 people. This covers kids, and staff, and allows for a couple of visitors (just in case). Teens often have school conflicts, so many times we don't know how many will be coming until about 2:00 PM the day of the meeting. There might be leftovers, but we always error on the side of having too much food.

Volunteers are welcome to arrive whenever they would like, but we suggest they arrive no later than 6:30 pm. The team size is usually around 5-6, but people, but a few more are always welcome. Someone will be available to greet and guide them to the kitchen area. If meal volunteers want to use our kitchen facility, of course, they would have to arrive with enough time to prepare for a serving time of 7:00 pm. 

Volunteers are not required to serve meals to the students, but, if at all possible, it would be our preference. It is a great way to interface with the teens, and it is good to start a relationship by modeling serving. 

We encourage volunteers to sit with the students and eat the meal together. It is not mandatory, but it is a great way to get to know the kids. Volunteers can also eat with the leadership team and learn more about the ministry! 

Volunteers do not HAVE to stay and clean up, but again it would be our preference. This gives you more time with the students and leadership team. Cleaning up is pretty simple. Usually, the serving supplies are all disposable. If they cook at the campus and use Utensils, Pots & Pans, etc., we have to run them through the dishwasher. If they bring crockpots, etc. they can take them home and wash them, or use the kitchen. The evening ends at 7:30 pm when the students head to the vans to go home.

Below is information to help you understand what we typically provide for the meals.

You have great latitude. As was mentioned previously, the team can use our commercial kitchen to prepare the meal, or you can prepare a meal at home and bring and serve. We have warming appliances to keep food warm until serving time.

Here are a few menus that we have provided in the past, but you absolutely are not limited to these:

• Orange Chicken, Egg Rolls, White Rice and Fruit Cups, Cupcakes

• Hamburger/Cheeseburgers, French Fries, Frozen Fruit, Brownies

• Chili Dogs, Potato Salad, Fresh Fruit, Brownies

• Homemade (Embellished Frozen) Pizza, Fruit, Ice Cream Cones

• Chicken Soup, Cold cut Sandwiches, Chips, Cookies

• Nachos Bell Grande (Nacho Chips with Nacho Cheese, Ground Beef or Chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, etc, Fruit, Homemade Cookies

• Baked Potato Bar (Large Baked Potatoes with lots of options - Sour Cream, Butter, Bacon, Cheese, etc), Salad with Dressings, Sundaes

• Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad & Dressings & Cookies

• Baked Mostaccioli, Garlic Bread, Salad & Dressings & Cup Cakes

• Cold cut Sandwiches on Rolls, Tater Tots, Fruit, Ice Cream Bars

• Italian Beef Sandwiches, Chips, Cake

Our goal is to have all of the meals prepared by volunteer teams throughout the school year. If this means a team serves once a month, we will be very thankful! Serving regularly allows the team to get to know the kids and begin forming relationships with them. It also allows for the volunteers to learn more about the ministry and see if there are other ways the Holy Spirit would lead them to serve. We have huge dreams to further develop the teens in biblical character and life skills that will help them throughout their lives, and all of those dreams are dependent on God providing the workers!. It is our prayer and vision that what may begin by providing a meal will allow the Holy Spirit to speak into hearts. 

We want to make this an easy and enjoyable ministry for you. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Warren at 847-344-2490, or at bill@fvca.org.

We are using Meal Train to schedule and sign up for the meals. Use this link to go directly to the TNT Meal Train and choose your spot!

https://mealtrain.com/870lyn

We would love to thank you on Facebook or in our email newsletter.  Please have your team fill out the media release form.  

Bill Warren

bill@fvca.org

630.584.2222 x208