On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Samaritan Center guests are offered a little something extra with their morning meal. A young man on the serving line offers them sandwiches to take along for later in the day. Few will ever know the story behind the sandwich—or that there is a story at all.
Twice a week, Andrew Lunetta and a group of college friends make nearly 100 sandwiches for him to hand out at breakfast the next morning. A native of Boston and a freshman at LeMoyne College, Andrew grew up volunteering in soup kitchens. “My mom is really into social issues and she always wanted us to be community-oriented. When I came to school, I searched for a place to volunteer and found the Samaritan Center. I started coming here twice a week and it stuck. It’s really cool how I’ve been able to get to know some of the guests here.”
Andrew wanted to do something extra and had the idea to make the sandwiches for guests. He found ready support from fellow students and the college. “I’m fortunate to have a group at school behind me,” he said. “The school pays for all the ingredients and I have a lot of help making them.”
Andrew also started a pen pal program between students and Samaritan Center guests. “I figured that a lot of people here might not have a lot to look forward to, and a letter might mean a lot.”
The Samaritan Center welcomes individuals and groups to volunteer in their kitchen and has a number of volunteers who come back regularly. One group of volunteers is made up of former high school pals who volunteer together and to enjoy each other’s company and the good feeling that comes from helping others. Volunteers also staff many of the food pantries across the county. If you are interested in volunteering at the Samaritan Center, a local pantry, or in another capacity, contact United Way’s Volunteer Center to get started.
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