Serving with open hearts: Volunteering at the Door is Open Soup Kitchen

By Juliana, 1^st-year Corpus Christi College student

As someone who has volunteered at The Door is Open multiple times in high school, I can personally say that the positive feelings of being able to help those less fortunate are very worth the time spent there. It’s about more than just giving out food. It’s about the interactions, the conversations, and the smiles that volunteers can give the individuals who come for their meals. One small action of love can change a person’s whole day or sometimes even life.

Some people have misconceptions about those who reside in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, viewing them as people with less value, or even not seeing them as people.

During the November visit to the Door Is Open, a group of students and faculty from Corpus Christi College did just this. As we made meals, everyone was acting in community, laughing, chatting, and trying their best to make sure the meal was as perfect as possible. Even though there were so many students all packed into a small kitchen, we were able to make a wonderful macaroni and steamed veggies dinner.

The kitchen was so busy before we served the meals, and I could see the passion that many young adults have for volunteering. The knowledge that even better moments were to come increased our energy and positive attitudes.

I could tell that some students who had never done this before weren’t sure what to expect. But going out without preconceptions or bias toward these people made the volunteering experience even better. As fellow student and multiple-time volunteer, Eric, stated, it helped him “realize the importance of humanizing the situation—to spread awareness, not stigma.”

This passion also went into the few hours we took to serve the food, and seeing the smiles the individuals had on their faces when we welcomed them inside and gave them a nice warm meal. Those smiles are the things I will always remember from volunteering at the Door is Open.

I remember one man taking a meal and saying, “Bless you, young people, for taking your time! God is good!” and my heart was shining.

A friend and classmate, Becca, says, “There were so many people in need of help, but [I’m] so glad that I could be a part of the group helping them.” Even though it was only a meal, we were able to do something, which is one reason why many people love volunteering at The Door is Open. The impact of these few hours of serving the food to those who entered lasted longer than that day. Becca also says, “It was a very eye-opening experience, and I continue to pray for the people I encountered every day.”

Another classmate, Caitlin, says that volunteering “allowed [her] to see the significant need for change in our community” and “inspired [her] to work towards making a difference.”

Volunteering at The Door is Open Soup Kitchen provided an opportunity to serve those in need and inspired a deeper sense of compassion, awareness, and commitment to making a meaningful difference in the community.