The Process
The Soul Food Cafe' Mission's food box distribution is a three step process. Listed below are the three steps...
Step 1
When You Arrive
After the doors have opened at 9 am, we invite you to come in and Meet our hostess. She will have a (free of charge) yellow ticket for your family & as many (free) orange drink tickets for each person in your family, She can answer any questions you might have about this process. She also has a paper that explains everything we do in English and Spanish. Please, once you have received those tickets go on in to the main area and have a seat. You may want to go by the refreshment table and get a coffee, tea and something sweet to eat! You can redeem your orange drink ticket there as well, but keep your cup! (Only one cup per person is given out each visit.) Be looking at the yellow number sign at the front of the main area. When your number has been displayed even if it is passed your number, you may go back to the Administration table where the computers are to note your visit with us. Please know that once your number has been displayed we will serve that group of people on a first come first serve basis. You will get a different plastic ticket to go to the next table across the room..
At this table tickets are available (free of charge) for Health & Beauty Aids (Green), clothing pantry (White), Hot meal (Blue), and Food box (Pink). We will tape them on a white 3x5 index card for easy handling. We also have free hair cuts as well, just sign your name on the podium by the room where we do haircuts. They will call your name over the PA system when it is your turn for a haircut.
After the doors have opened at 9 am, we invite you to come in and Meet our hostess. She will have a (free of charge) yellow ticket for your family & as many (free) orange drink tickets for each person in your family, She can answer any questions you might have about this process. She also has a paper that explains everything we do in English and Spanish. Please, once you have received those tickets go on in to the main area and have a seat. You may want to go by the refreshment table and get a coffee, tea and something sweet to eat! You can redeem your orange drink ticket there as well, but keep your cup! (Only one cup per person is given out each visit.) Be looking at the yellow number sign at the front of the main area. When your number has been displayed even if it is passed your number, you may go back to the Administration table where the computers are to note your visit with us. Please know that once your number has been displayed we will serve that group of people on a first come first serve basis. You will get a different plastic ticket to go to the next table across the room..
At this table tickets are available (free of charge) for Health & Beauty Aids (Green), clothing pantry (White), Hot meal (Blue), and Food box (Pink). We will tape them on a white 3x5 index card for easy handling. We also have free hair cuts as well, just sign your name on the podium by the room where we do haircuts. They will call your name over the PA system when it is your turn for a haircut.
Step 2
Now you can take your 3x5 index card with all your tickets taped to it and watch for your number to come up from each of the desired assistance area. Guests who arrive after we close at 3pm need to be aware that after 3 pm we are not giving out any more tickets in order to fill all the orders that have come in and clean up. Look for your numbers to be displayed on the display. Numbers are also announced over the PA system. Come to the area site when your number has been called and displayed for that particular benefit (health & beauty aid, clothing, hot meal, etc...).
Step 3
Receiving Your Food Box
At 1pm we will call the Food Box numbers. If you leave the premises during the day, you must return before 3 pm to receive your food box, even if you already have your red ticket. Around 1pm, someone will call your red ticket number. Please come up to the front when your number is called and trade your red ticket for a number that you will give to the volunteer taking those in the food box distribution area outside. You may go out to your car at this time and drive through the food box distribution lane. Present your number and they will load your food box(es) for you.
At 1pm we will call the Food Box numbers. If you leave the premises during the day, you must return before 3 pm to receive your food box, even if you already have your red ticket. Around 1pm, someone will call your red ticket number. Please come up to the front when your number is called and trade your red ticket for a number that you will give to the volunteer taking those in the food box distribution area outside. You may go out to your car at this time and drive through the food box distribution lane. Present your number and they will load your food box(es) for you.
