Spotlight: Miriam's Kitchen

I had the privilege to serve breakfast at Miriam's Kitchen this week and I understand why Washington CityPaper readers voted it the best place to volunteer in DC. The staff was so friendly and energetic, and the volunteers were extremely welcoming ( all this at 6:30 in the morning!). Miriam's provides meals to Washington DC's homeless every weekday. But, don't think of this place as your average food kitchen; Miriam's provides exceptional case management and an after breakfast program where guests can participate in everything from art sessions to yoga.

Miriam's is such a great nonprofit, that our First Lady Michelle Obama couldn't resist coming in to serve meals. She served lunch there this past March.

Now, what makes Miriam's so great and highly regarded? Here a just few reasons:

First, they prepare food on-site and serve high quality (and very tasty) meals. The morning I was there, they made blueberry pancakes, spaghetti with spinach, green beans, salad, and fresh fruit. They have also mastered the art of social networking for nonprofits and you can stay connected to Miriam's in so many ways. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Youtube. And they have a pretty awesome website: http://www.miriamskitchen.org/ that features recipes for some of their best dishes. Their commitment to case management is phenomenal. They don't refer to the people they serve as clients, they are welcomed as guests and case managers work to build a community. They provide medicine, clothes, and most importantly, a kind person to talk to. The website even has a page dedicated to meeting their guests; it includes interviews, their artwork, and their poetry.

White House volunteers serving food at Miriam's summer BBQ

If you're interested in volunteering with Miriam's, please visit their volunteer page: Volunteer Info. If you can't donate your time in the kitchen, they have several other areas you can help.