Veterans Helping Veterans
On September 19, 2012, dozens of military veterans and social services, clinical, and therapeutic staff from the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Bishop Goedert Residence, and Cooke's Manor - all located on an expansive medical campus in Hines, Illinois - gathered together to produce 2,600 nutritious meals for hungry and homeless veterans. Participants were gowned in aprons and hairnets, and hands were disinfected. Following a video orientation on safe food handling and production protocols, teams of twelve were provided thorough hands-on training in packaging the nutritionally fortified pasta and cheese meals.
With military precision - and an obvious passion to support their hungry and homeless comrades - the veterans embraced the mission, rapidly mastering the assembly procedures, and ramping up to peak production rates. Much like military maneuvers - or team sports - meal packaging requires logistical coordination, quality control, harmonious collaboration, cross-training, and unit cohesion and support. Impressively, the veterans were naturals.
While everyone focused on creating quality, flavorful, nutritious meals for those in need, the act of giving - and done in partnership with others - generates its own vibrant energy that can profoundly impact both participant and observer. This was certainly the case among those joyfully gathered at Hines.
With military precision - and an obvious passion to support their hungry and homeless comrades - the veterans embraced the mission, rapidly mastering the assembly procedures, and ramping up to peak production rates. Much like military maneuvers - or team sports - meal packaging requires logistical coordination, quality control, harmonious collaboration, cross-training, and unit cohesion and support. Impressively, the veterans were naturals.
While everyone focused on creating quality, flavorful, nutritious meals for those in need, the act of giving - and done in partnership with others - generates its own vibrant energy that can profoundly impact both participant and observer. This was certainly the case among those joyfully gathered at Hines.