Volunteer at Cafe 458 - Completed 3/11/06

Cafe 458 is a weekend brunch place that runs completely on donations and the work of volunteers. The proceeds go to support the programs of the Samaritan House of Atlanta which help feed, clothe, and provide opportunities off the street for homeless men and women. The food is great...and after several visits as a customer, I got up the courage to volunteer, despite my lack of any previous wait-staff experience.

I got there early in the morning and was a given a 15 minute orientation. I helped set up the tables in preparation for our first customers of the day. We were assigned shifts doing dishes and on the floor taking orders and serving customers. My first shift was on dish duty. We loaded trays with dirty dishes and ran them through a high-powered dish washer...then towel-dried and restacked the clean dishes. It was hard work, but fun...and I only managed to break one mug. The hardest part was staying out of the way of the cooking team...as they were busily cooking, filling orders, and lining up plates of hot food at the serving station. There was a lot of chaos in the kitchen.

My next shift was to serve a row of 3 tables. I was so excited to finally get out and serve. I refilled drinks, cleared the tables quickly, and put on a big smile for each customer. There was a slow moment when I was asked to restock the syrup containers at the wait-station with newly filled containers coming out of the kitchen. That's when it happened...I grabbed 2 syrup jars and turned to take them to the station, when the glass bottle fell right out from the lid in my hand. It shattered on the floor spraying gooey, sticky syrup all over my new jeans, the floor, a table AND 2 customers (sitting at a large table with 4 other people)! They tried to dive out of the way, but it was too late. I was horrified. I ran to the back room to grab a mop and came out to clean up...but syrup does not clean up very easily. I tried to comfort one of the customers by suggesting that she would smell sweet all day, but I don't think it really helped. I think I am one of those people meant for dish duty.

I have not been back, but would definitely volunteer again. I was hoping my reputation as "syrup-girl" would be forgotten. Let me know if you'd like to volunteer with me. I promise not to spill syrup on you!