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service/community > special
projects > leavenhouse
Leavenhouse
Lunch Program
The Leavenhouse Neighbors Program works to feed the hungry, to
teach our children responsibility for others, and to provide adults
with an opportunity to model socially responsible behavior. Leavenhouse
is a non-profit organization located in North Camden, New Jersey,
which provides meals for the hungry and permanent housing for the
homeless. The food kitchen requires a nominal fee or work in return
for meals. It is operated by resident coordinators who live in apartments
on-site. Further information about Leavenhouse is available upon
request.
In 1997, Cindy Kolaski, a member of Haddonfield Monthly Meeting
of Friends, and Tom Knoche, long-time Leavenhouse resident coordinator,
developed the Leavenhouse Neighbors Program. Since then, Cindy Kolaski
has operated Leavenhouse Neighbors as a program of the Haddonfield
Monthly Meeting. The Program provides a large-scale gift of service
performed in manageable time installments by many generous volunteers
from the Haddonfield Friends Meeting and Haddonfield Friends School
community.
Respecting Leavenhouse’s concern that volunteers in large
groups might disturb the successful functioning of the Leavenhouse
kitchen, the Leavenhouse Neighbors program recruits parent and child
volunteer teams. Each Saturday, a team provides at least one hour
of service either preparing or serving the afternoon meal at Leavenhouse.
Children in third grade or below help to prepare the meal. Those
in fourth grade or above help to serve the meal.
In addition to aiding Leavenhouse in its mission to feed the hungry,
the Leavenhouse Neighbors Program teaches children tolerance and
responsibility for others’ welfare by bringing them into contact
with poverty in a helping capacity. It provides parents with a one-on-one
opportunity to teach their children by example, and to address the
inevitable questions that the experience raises in their children’s
minds.
Leavenhouse does not give something for nothing. It provides meals
in return for a small fee or for work in the kitchen. This enables
people to earn their way, dignity intact, and encourages independent
success and self-esteem. This is a mission worthy of substantial
support.
The Leavenhouse Neighbors Program is simple, practical and effective.
It benefits everyone involved. The benefits continue long after
the hour of service concludes. The children learn by doing that
helping a neighbor in need is essentially humane.
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