Many people work hard all year to carry out the many CoFiA programs. Between November and April a dedicated group of twelve or more volunteers produce the very welcome hot lunches we serve every Monday at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Palisades Park. Visitors often comment the program operates like a well-oiled machine, each person having a specific set of duties–but they are also able to fill in when someone else is not able to come. The lunch program also provides a warm, friendly environment where guests can talk to our Social Services coordinator, Angelica Martinez; benefit from the very helpful educational programs organized by Sayda Tuanama; and just have the chance to sit for a while in a warm place and talk with friends.
Once a year CoFiA invites the volunteers to a thank you lunch at a local restaurant, where we are joined by members of the Wage Theft, ESL, Workers Link and other committees, as well as officers and staff. The work we do can be sad and difficult–but once a year we take time to enjoy the rewards of jobs well done.