Seattle Restaurant Store donates commercial cookware to St. Dunstan's to help with Tent City 3 meals

Josef displays the donation from the Seattle Restaurant Store
copyright, Marc Weinberg

Text and photos, Marc Weinberg

With all hands on deck and in the galley, the chefs and volunteers at St. Dunstan’s Church, 722 N 145th St, Shoreline, between Greenwood and Aurora, prepared an evening community dinner for 250 hungry guests including Tent City 3 which currently is residing at the church.

Only some of the St. Dunstan kitchen crew who make these meals possible
copyright, Marc Weinberg

The food is all from donations and the festivities occur every Tuesday evening about 5:30pm rain or shine during the entire year.

On this evening, I surprised the church and the volunteers with a special donation of commercial cookware and utensils received from the Seattle Restaurant Store just around the corner from the church at 14910 Aurora Ave N.

The sauce goes on
copyright, Marc Weinberg

When you're cooking for this many people, equipment is as important as the food. Because the kitchen does not have a large commercial rice cooker, they are forced to prepare that in large baking pans in the oven. This takes considerable attention and a 'rice cooker' is high on their wish list.

Hungry hands make their way through the service line
copyright, Marc Weinberg

The menu this evening consisted of an embellished salad bar and fresh fruit, an elaborate beverage selection of chilled juices, milk, coffee and tea. The featured hot items were Spaghetti Bolognese, Polynesian Rice flavored with bacon, green onions, oyster sauce and sesame oil.

After dinner sweets
copyright, Marc Weinberg

The dessert buffet rounded out the meal with a mound of pastries, breads, crackers and cookies. There was a “free to go” table with packaged breads and rolls which guests could take home with them.

The result of 4 hours gathering supplies and cooking
is enjoyed by all every Tuesday evening.
copyright, Marc Weinberg

This church, like the others that offers space for Tent City 3, is always in need of extra support when the temporary residents are in place. Find out more about needed donations for Tent City 3 and a full explanation about this group and their locations (as they move every 90 days) here. (see previous article You Can Help Tent City 3).

To discover more about this church and their continuous Tuesday evening meals go to their website.