Feasting Together (Meals and Related Services)

Coordinator:  Mark & Linda Roth - akfish2@gmail.com, alaskasgirl57@yahoo.com  (907) 235-2412 (hm); (907) 399-3578 (cell); (907) 399-3579 (cell)

Indeed, one of the major aspects, and in fact a requirement for God's people during Sukkot, is to hold a 'feast' (Deut. 14:26).  Besides the usual practice of inviting others to your table or campfire to share a meal with you, Season of Our Joy has always sponsored various 'Fellowship Meals' with the intent of bringing the whole 'camp' together in one place and sharing a meal together.  This year SOOJ wants to carry on that tradition, but in a different way.  Being that the lodges at the Windermere Youth Camp have kitchens for every 8- 10 rooms, we're wanting to put them to use as part of the Fellowship Meal process.

This year's fellowship meal plan will include 1) a 'finger foods' mixer on the first evening (Wed. evening) and on the evening of the Water Pouring Re-Enactment (Tuesday evening); 2) a "Hamburger" social on late Sunday afternoon before the Fun Show;  and 3) Area fellowship meal on the eve of the last day of the festival.

Our plan for the 'Area' fellowship meal is to have 7 individual meals going on simultaneously - 4 in the Lake View Lodge; 2 in the Koehler Lodge; and 1 in the campground/RV park.  The menu will be the same in each area.  A person can attend at any location, but everyone will be expected to contribute something to the meal, either food or service, or both.  There will be a sign up sheet pertaining to food and service for each area.

• Opening Night and Water Pouring Mixer - plan the finger foods mixer for those evenings including a) coordinating announcements about the event, b) organizing the volunteers for the event, c) collecting and preparing the food and drinks, d) setting up the location, and e) cleaning up afterwards.  In the past, SOOJ has sent out announcements asking each family to provide certain items (chips, drinks, cookies, veggie trays, etc.) based on the organizer's request.  SOOJ will provide all the drinks, paper products, and utensils.
  • Service Times: afternoon through evening on the day of the two mixers
  • Shift Frequency: once or twice depending on whether you volunteer for both events or only one
  • Experience: Organizers should be able to plan the event and delegate responsibilities to others; Helpers - no experience necessary
  • Positions Available:  1 - 2 organizers and approximately 30 helpers
• Hamburger Social - plan and coordinate the evening's meal.  Each person brings his/her own meats as well as buns, chips, potato salad, etc.  SOOJ usually supplies the condiments, drinks, paper goods, etc.. You will have to secure grills (Windermere has a big one), collect and prepare the food, set up and clean up the facility.
  • Service Times: afternoon through evening of the Hamburger Social
  • Shift Frequency: one time
  • Experience: Organizer should be able to plan the event and delegate responsibilities to others; Helpers - no experience necessary
  • Positions Available:  1 organizer and approximately 30 helpers
• Area Fellowship Meal - The "Area Fellowship Meal" will be new to SOOJ this year.  The unique design of the housing facilities at the Windermere campus (full kitchens, dishes, and seating for 60 - 80 people per wing) make this possible.  Our plan is for one person from each wing of the Lakeview Lodge (two wings upstairs and two wings downstairs), one person from each floor of the Keohler Lodge, and one person from the campground to volunteer to be an Area Organizer.  Each Area Organizer will then have a sign up sheet on which others from any facility (or off campus housing) can sign up to attend and help in the preparation of the meal in that area.  Area Organizers may choose to use the dishes in his area's kitchen or purchase paper goods, condiments, etc. depending on the size of their group.  Area organizers will solicit help from those on their respective sign up list.  Because the meal will be on an 'erev Shabbat' (the evening before the Holy Day), it's our desire that each area 'bring in the Sabbath' in their own unique way.
  • Service Times: afternoon through evening on the day of the area meals.
  • Shift Frequency: 1 afternoons
  • Experience: Organizers should able to plan the event and delegate responsibilities to others
  • Positions available - 7 Area Organizers, 1 from each kitchen area plus helpers
• Morning Coffee - Windermere gives us the opportunity to serve our own drinks (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) in the Main Hall.  By providing our own coffee, SOOJ is able to save well over $1000 each year in food services costs. We will be serving coffee every morning during he festival.  This task includes preparing the coffee each morning from about 20 minutes before the first session till midway through that session.  It also includes having someone monitor the use of the coffee and creamers, insuring that the primary consumers are adults.  SOOJ will provide all the coffee, condiments, paper goods, and equipment.
  • Service Times: each day starting about 40 minutes prior to the start of the first session
  • Shift Frequency - 2 teams of 4 people serving 4 times each
  • Experience: Organizer should be an early riser, able to plan an efficient way to serve the coffee, and be able to discern if the coffee and condiments are being wasted (by children); Helpers - no experience necessary
  • Positions available - 1 Organizer and 4 helpers on each team