Study breakin'

Things are starting to wind down for the student volunteers as we prepare for finals and the end of the school year. And what better way to take a break from seemingly infinite school work than to head on over to the coolest spot in Milton? That's right, I'm talking about Community Harvest!

First things first, set up. This is where the manual labor comes in. And you know what they say, "sun's out, guns out." Carly shows off some superb upper-body strength as she navigates the tables into the elevator. Anyone who has done this before knows it is no easy task, but that doesn't keep the smile off Carly's face.

Next comes the food prep. This week's meal was the infamous shepherd's pie. First, we prepared the meat and veggies with some help from Julian and Pete of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Then, we made some mashed potatoes with our industrial-size mixer, which appears to be quite the intriguing process for our newcomer, Reed, from Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Speaking of industrial-size, let's not forget about our Community Harvest cauldrons that take over the stove. This week, they were used for the veggies.

And now for dessert. We served Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity's homemade cupcakes along with cheesecake that was generously donated to us. We also made peanut butter and chocolate rice krispy treats to be served at next week's meal (always thinkin' ahead).

We had help with serving from Phi Kappa Psi and Delta Upsilon fraternities. And let's not forget about Richard, who stacks trays like a champ, week after week.

Overall, another successful week at Community Harvest. Tune in next week for another addition of study breakin' at Community Harvest!

Goin' green!

The weather is warming up here in central PA and that means we're putting the harvest back in Community Harvest. This week was all about the GREENS.

Carly and I got the salad started with some lettuce choppin'. Just in case you weren't aware, the inside of lettuce slightly resembles a human brain. How fitting that they're called heads of lettuce, right? Are you blown away yet?

But quality salads like the ones we serve up at Community Harvest are not complete without a good dose of fresh veggies.

(The final product is quite a masterpiece, if I do say so myself.)

And just in case you REAAALLLLY like veggies, we sliced up some carrots to be cooked and served with the barbecue pork sandwiches.

This week, I had the honor of serving the meal along with volunteers from Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Delta Gamma sorority. Here's an exclusive sneak peek of the behind-the-scenes serving process.

And if you eat enough veggies, you might even be fast enough to compete with Alicia in the pool. 

A Pocketful of Sunshine

The weather is warming up, reminding us that summer is right around the corner. And the sunshine is definitely bringing positive vibes to Community Harvest. This week's meal was biscuits with chicken/veggie gravy, mixed vegetables, and pears.

Apparently, the sunshine also brought productivity our way. Lynn prepared some pork for next week's meal. Always thinking ahead!

And don't worry, the girl scout cookies haven't gone anywhere. This week, they joined rice crispy treats and pastries at the dessert table.

We even had time to indulge in some of life's simple pleasures, namely applesauce, Tag-Along's, and Uno.

Our friends from Management 101 came back this week to help with the meal, and some volunteers from Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity lent a hand with the clean up process.

And if the combination of great weather and the usual Monday afternoon shenanigans isn't enough to make you smile, I don't know what is.

See ya next week!

The Art of Perfecting Chaos

A wise man once said, "No chaos, no creation. Evidence: the kitchen at mealtime." At Community Harvest, we are no strangers to turning chaos into creation, especially this week. I walked into the kitchen, where I was told that the ham had not been delivered. In other words, the very core of the night's planned meal was M.I.A. Yeah, pretty casual. Back-up plans were in place, assuming the ham never arrived. We were in "creation mode" and we were more than ready to confront our chaos.

I guess I should actually back up 20 minutes to the start of our chaos. Carly and I were on our way to Community Harvest when she had the sudden realization that she had forgotten something. The Easter card for our friend, Richard! This wasn't just any card. It was personally decorated with Easter bunnies and Reese's cups. We had no choice but to turn the car around and get the card. We were set back by a few minutes, but our first minor crisis had been averted.

Back in the kitchen, we poured gallons of pasteurized milk into pitchers for the mashed potatoes. And I have to admit, it was the closest I've come in my 20 (almost 21) years of life to milking a cow.

With the milk in place, it was time to stir some mashed potatoes. And what better way to tackle the huge, chaotic tubs of mashed potatoes than to turn them into a creation? That's right, I'm talking about mashed potato volcanoes. 

And we were having so much fun with our new creation that we almost didn't notice the ham! It arrived in time to be served alongside our mashed potatoes, pineapple, baked beans, and delicious dessert assortment (yes, we still have girl scout cookies!). With so many great dinner options, serving time can get a little...oh, what word am I looking for?...ah yes, chaotic. But this week, we had the help of the St. Andrew's youth group, and chaos was once again averted.

I have to admit, I think life would be pretty boring without a little chaos. Whether it's forgetting an Easter card or ham gone missing, it serves to add a little bit of excitement to the routine. We have come to embrace (and sometimes even expect) chaos at Community Harvest, and we welcome the creation it brings to the kitchen!