A 2012 Bodhisattva Volunteer Opportunity
for Bellingham and Whatcom County Members and Friends

Our sangha has long talked about finding a local community need that our members could join in order to carry our Bodhisattva vows and practice into the world. Recently such a project has come to our attention—C.A.S.T., which at its start stood for “Coffee and Sandwiches on Tuesdays.” Since its origins 10 years ago, C.A.S.T. has grown to provide 14,000 meals annually to the homeless and indigent in Bellingham every week, Monday through Thursday. Currently C.A.S.T needs a few new volunteers.

C.A.S.T. volunteers prepare sandwiches and hot soup, cocoa and coffee on each of the meal-serving days, and deliver and serve the food at the Interfaith Coalition Clinic downtown on Unity St. The food is stored and prepared at the Faith Lutheran Church (off Northwest and McLeod) and driven downtown to the Clinic in the late afternoon. Volunteers from several faith groups and other local organizations participate in the program. Individuals volunteer two or more hours a month for one of three tasks: Purchasing food supplies; making sandwiches and hot drinks; delivering and serving the food at the Interfaith Clinic.

The C.A.S.T is very well organized with complete, detailed instructions and the time requirements for each task, so the jobs are easy to learn. Two coordinators work together to schedule and supervise volunteers (who, it is estimated, give 5,000 hours per year).

If you would like to volunteer for this worthy and much needed program, please contact Edie at edwina.norton35@gmail.com for more information about how you can get involved.