Why did I volunteer to serve lunch at the homeless shelter on a Saturday?

I could think of a million reasons not to go. The friend who volunteered with me backed out at the last minute, so why shouldn't I? I won't know anyone there. I don’t know what I'm supposed to do when I get there. It's in a bad neighborhood and I'll be alone. And it was a very stressful week at work. I really could use a couple hours of extra sleep.

Reluctantly, I pulled myself through the shower and got dressed. I knew a larger group was scheduled to work with my friend and I. Surely they have enough people scheduled, I thought. I could go another day. How much does one person matter?

I looked at my watch and it was already 10:30 a.m. I was supposed to be there at 11:00 a.m.. What if they don't have enough people? It was really too late to call and cancel, so I drove downtown.

At 11:00 a.m., I pulled behind the shelter and parked, hesitating a moment. It didn't look like anyone was there. The back lot was deserted except for a church van. Maybe the shelter was closed today after all. My hope started to rise.

I locked my car and walked to the front of the shelter. No such luck. There were several people milling around, waiting to eat. A shelter worker who saw me approaching unlocked the door and let me in. "Lunch helper?" he grinned. "Yes," I said, forcing a smile.

He directed me to the lunchroom where a group of about twelve people was already hard at work. They must have arrived together in the church van parked in back. Great, I thought, they all know each other. I knew I would feel out of place, and sure enough, I did.

One of the women volunteers greeted me and invited me to pick a job from the job list on a nearby table. I walked over to the table and picked up the list, but everyone had already picked a job for the day. It appeared that all the jobs were taken.

Jim, the coordinator, told me I could stand by the condiment table and keep it tidy. I said "okay, great!" in my most enthusiastic voice, then glanced at the lunchroom door and wondered if anyone would notice if I slipped out.

But just then Jim announced they were unlocking the front doors for the guests. A line of about 25 people formed immediately, blocking my plans to exit unnoticed.

After the first person shuffled through the food line, he stopped at the dessert table, where a large assortment of day old bakery goods was displayed. He was having trouble balancing his tray with a paper grocery bag containing his belongings. He didn't want to put the bag down, and he couldn't cut the piece of the pie he selected without the contents of the bag spilling out.

Somebody needed to help, but all of the other volunteers were busy in the serving line. I decided to leave my queen of ketchup position and give him a hand.

Before I could get back to my station, the next person arrived and asked for my help. And then one after that, and another. Pretty soon I was busy replenishing the dessert and the condiment tables, and helping people cut their dessert selections and place them on their trays.

Most of the people smiled at me with genuine appreciation, and I couldn’t help but to return the smile. There weren't just homeless men, but also children, and a woman with a newborn baby. I don't know how many people came through the serving line that day. But I do know I was so busy I forgot how out-of-place I felt, and was soon chattering with everyone. The guests were appreciative, and every single one thanked me.

When we were finished cleaning up, Jim told me I was a great help and I made the people feel comfortable. I was really glad that I came. Not because it taught me I have much to be thankful for . . . I already knew that. But because I learned I had something to give, and it wasn't just ketchup and sweets. I had an opportunity to offer each person an encouraging word, a smile, and some simple assistance. And for those people, my being there did matter.

Bio: At Barbara Carr Phillips's website not only can you find the information for contacting her, but you will discover how to find out more about the virtual assistant services she offers.