2. Volunteer to serve dinner at a shelter

The day after the talk, I realize I don't know where a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter is. Hmmm. I google 'baton rouge homeless shelter soup kitchen' and click on St. Vincent de Paul's website because I've seen their ads on TV. I go to the contact page, dial the 'volunteer' number and leave a v/m.

Nobody calls me back.

Tuesday I had lunch with my friend Cheri, who is one of the most positive and upbeat people I know. I love our lunches, we always talk about Thinking Bigger, taking risks in life, and we celebrate successes of everybody we know. I tell her about needing a place to volunteer, and she goes, "Perfect! You need to go to St. Vincent de Pauls!" I explain that I had called, but no one had returned my call. "No problem," she says, "You can come with us when we go." Turns out her Civitan group volunteers once a month and extra hands are always welcome. I asked her to let me know when the next one was and she said, "You're on--it's this coming Thursday."

What I didn't know was that you can't just walk up and volunteer, you have to sign up and be part of a group. I kept picturing a school cafeteria with us all in hairnets and big spoons dishing up food from a big kitchen. Cheri told me that each member of her group cooks a dish, and they'd done it so many times the menu was set: roast beef, corn, creamed spinach, bread, salad and cookies for dessert. We all meet at 6 in the dining room for the women and children, and are finished by 7, like clockwork.

What will this be like?
I'd never been around homeless people before. What would they be like? Would I feel self-conscious? Should I wear my jewelry? Would they resent me? I felt silly even thinking these things and wished I felt more comfortable and didn't make such a big deal out of it. Oh well, this is what the List is all about, getting me out of my comfort zone.

Once I got into the room I knew immediately everything would be okay. The room was immaculate, and filled with about 20 women and children who were patiently waiting for us to set up.

We set up a serving line, the director came in and led the blessing, and one by one, the women approached us, and I was struck by how friendly they were. "Hi, how you doin'?" each one said, and politely asked for smaller portions for their 'babies'. I found myself chatting with them easily, all self-consciousness evaporated the minute I saw a beautiful little boy making 'sweet eyes' at all of us with his striking topaz-colored eyes." I took a plate of cookies over to two giggly sisters, who informed me that chocolate chip cookies were their favorite. I could relate.

I wondered later what their stories were. I felt for the children, were they okay during the day and did they feel safe at night? I felt silently grateful for the people in our world who operate shelters like this one, I would never have that kind of dedication, my skills and interests lie elsewhere. But for tonight, I hoped that what I did made a difference.

I'll be back, too. On the way back to our cars I got conscripted. The group informed me that I was now on their email list and they'll expect to see me next month. Maybe next time, I'll bake the cookies.