A group of U-Haul volunteers gathered after work on June 6 to serve 410 meals to those in need at André House in Phoenix.
U-Haul, headquartered in Phoenix since 1967, has volunteered at André House for several years thanks to the generosity of Team Members who visit every other month to create and plate meals as part of the dinner service.
Volunteers arrive at 3 p.m. and begin by prepping all the ingredients to be cooked. On this particular occasion, it was burrito night. André guests were served pico de gallo, beans, rice, tortillas, hot sauce and grapes. Meals are curated to provide the most nutritional value while knowing that many guests are homeless and facing food insecurity.
Food is provided from various sources including donations from local grocery stores and fellow Phoenix nonprofits like St. Mary’s and St. Vincent de Paul.
“It’s a very enlightening experience,” noted Jay Harris, manager of the U-Haul Digital Asset Management program. “Serving the people here is a great honor.”
Once dinner is prepared, Team Members are assigned to stations where they serve guests. Several are on the line plating food; some are at the drink station; and others interact with guests to ensure they have a good experience.
Said André House team leader Christy Bogan: “Every time U-Haul comes, I am happy. You are all great volunteers, and we wouldn’t be able to do this without your support.”
When dinner ends at 6:30, Team Members help clean the facility for the next service. This means sweeping, mopping and clearing tables. Hundreds of meals are served each day to feed the thousands of our at-risk neighbors in Phoenix.
André House is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 by two Holy Cross priests from Notre Dame University with a mission to respond to the basic needs of the poor while encouraging others to do the same.
Today, with the support of volunteers, André House provides a variety of resources to those in need, including dinner service six days a week, clothing donations, laundry service, hygiene kits, showers and burials for those who have passed away without family or friends to administer the funeral rites.
“If you’re ever feeling ungrateful, just come here,” said Shaneatha Bradley, U-Haul Roadside analyst. “Come here, serve and see the impact this place has on people.”
U-Haul volunteer opportunities are orchestrated by the Community Relations team in step with the Company’s longtime focus of assisting organizations that help people meet their most basic needs: food, clothing and shelter.
