Pistachio dip?  Sure, why not!

It seems there's a food for every holiday and a holiday for every food.  March 23rd is National Chip and Dip Day. Even though someone from the snack industry probably thought this holiday up to increase sales, you can't deny how tasty and addicting this treat combo is. Super Bowl Sunday may have already come and gone, and with it the 7-layer dips and store-bought onion dips, but you can still try out some of these recipes that are a bit more refined. Click here for a fantastic collection of Bon Appetit's Homemade Dip Recipes. You won't be sorry.

We hope you're as excited as we are to try chef Joe's Irish fa re at the upcoming Volunteer Appreciation Party. Not sure what to make for your St. Patrick's day festivities? Here's a collection of " Traditional Irish Recipes " from Donal Skehan, one of Ireland's international food stars. 

Jim Brack won last year's dessert contest

 

Wondering what to make for the dessert contest on March 14th? Here are some hints from past winners...

1. Make your sweet bite-sized so more people can sample it.
2. Cheesecakes have been a real hit over the years.
3. Pies are difficult to cut up and serve to a large group.

We always welcome new volunteers! Here are our current opportunities:

Delivery Drivers (4:30pm - 6:30pm)

• Monday, Route 6 (Miguel Chavez Rd.)
• Tuesday, Route 18 (Agua Fria)
• Wednesday, Route 1 (S. Rufina St.)
• Thursday, Route 13 (Rufina St.)
• Friday, Route 6 (Miguel Chavez Rd.) 

• Kitchen - AM or PM shift, M-F
• Delivery - M-F
• Delivery Prep - M-F
• Delivery Coordination - M-F

Our new volunteer positions and procedures seem to be settling in quite nicely. Delicious meals are coming out right on time with correct dots, delivery room volunteers are improving their accuracy with every shift, and delivery coordinators are labeling leftover meals and moving them directly into the blast chiller to maximize freshness. Delivery drivers don't have to wait as long as they used to while picking up meals, and the overall accuracy of meal packing has gone up dramatically.

We know it's been challenging, especially with so many changes to stay on top of, but our volunteers have been outstanding, flexible, and very helpful during our construction. Our volunteer handbooks have all been updated to reflect the various volunteer jobs and their associated procedures. Please take a moment to review the handbooks.  It's quite likely there's something in there you might not be aware of. Click here to view the Kitchen Handbook. Click here for the Delivery Handbook (Delivery Room Prep, Delivery Coordinators, Delivery Drivers).

We're still in the midst of flu season, and it's important to be well informed about this dangerous virus and how to prevent its spread. We hear quite a few volunteers say they're "no longer contagious" between sniffs and coughs. Here's a helpful little video that gives some scientific facts concerning how long one might actually be contagious after being exposed to the flu virus. 

Please help keep your co-workers, friends, and our clients healthy by not coming to volunteer until you're certain you are no longer contagious. Thanks!

How long are you contagious?

 

Kay has been a Kitchen Angel for 16 years!

We've been on the lookout lately - and catching volunteers doing some notable things. By notable, we mean thoughtful, sincere, responsible, and just plain outstanding! 

Now that we've caught them doing good, we're telling on them.

Kay Slattery, Wednesday Delivery Coordinator, was caught offering to help a driver out with her meal bags. She did this with a smile on her face, kind words of thanks to the driver, and total patience. Thanks Kay, for modeling such hospitality.

James & Georgia Snead know their clients and the meals they get. They always check to make sure they have the correct dot colors and number of meals. They caught a mistake recently and were able to remedy it before they even left the building. Thank you for being attentive to your clients' needs.

George Baker checked the "Master List" while he was signing in for his volunteer delivery shift. He checked the list of clients against the meal bags he had on his route shelf and found they didn't match up. He was missing a bag for one of his clients. We looked around and found that it had been placed on the wrong shelf. Thanks to George, we were able to catch the mistake in time. Good job!

	Juliana helps in the kitchen on Thursday mornings, then stays to fill delivery bags!

Joe can't say enough good things about his Thursday morning kitchen crew. They work very well  together, laugh, razz one another, and get the job done. They need very little guidance because they have such confidence in the kitchen and rely on one another. This group of people exemplifies the concept of teamwork. Thanks Kent, Bill, Katie, Ron, Michael, Karl, Magdalena, Juliana, Maria, Brenda, Peggy & Kendal! You guys are top notch.

Drinette & Donald Ellison have been Delivery Room Volunteers for the past four months. They are serving a mission through their church and agreed to assist Kitchen Angels by preparing our delivery room on Wednesdays. They are always on time, hard working, humble, and very kind. We appreciate how they take suggestions, strive for excellence, and double check their work every time. We're happy to see your faces each Wednesday, and are grateful for your precision work.