INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING DINNER FOR LAZARUS HOUSE

Each month, UUSG supplies dinner for 50 to 60 Lazarus House guests. Bring dinner in disposable containers to the shelter hot and ready to eat by 6:45 p.m. Guests eat at 7:00 p.m. Dinner should include an entrée plus salad and rolls.  There’s usually bread, rolls and desert items at the shelter and you will not have to supply those items. You choose the recipe and sides; simple and inexpensive is fine. Call Friday or  Saturday a week ahead  to confirm the number of guest and ask about rolls or bread. Unless we receive a specific request we will schedule two or more families for the dinners – you should coordinate the details between yourselves. 

We are now collaborating with St. Charles Episcopal and cooking dinners for Lazarus House with them in their large church kitchen located at 994 N 5th Ave, in St Charles, .  Our UUSG team is responsible for planning the meal, doing the shopping and bringing all of the needed supplies to the St Charles Episcopal Typically we have everyone arrive at St Charles Episcopal at 3:30 PM to prepare and cook and are ready to deliver the prepared hot dinner to Lazarus at 6:45 PM.   The Kitchen at St Charles Episcopal is well equipped.   Dallas and Kathy Heikkinen will be your hosts.  Dallas can be reached at 630-222-5489 or dallas@fnal.gov .  I recommend “shopping” the freezers at Lazarus on Monday or no later than Tuesday preceding the Saturday you are cooking.  The larger frozen chunks of meat and containers of food take 3 days or longer to defrost in a refrigerator.  That way also you will know what the menu is, what additional ingredients you will need to buy and can plan the cooking duties for Saturday.   

Tips for making dinners: 

• Lazarus House has freezers in which they store donated meats and vegetables. They usually have a selection of meat and veggies on hand, and they encourage folks making dinners to come by and use the donated supplies from their freezers.  Plan ahead.  Come by on Tuesday to shop the freezers for the meal you will make on the following Saturday.  Often you will need to allow 4 days for large cuts of meat to defrost in a refrigerator so take the selected items home with you to save and defrost for Saturday dinner.  There is always a staff person on hand to take your call or to help you check the freezer. 

• Lazarus House has a supply of disposable aluminum pans in their kitchen that you can use for cooking and serving dinners. Please pick these up when you shop the freezers  They are happy to  get rid of them. 

• Save your receipts for items that you buy for Lazarus House. You can claim these as in-kind charitable contributions on your taxes. Or you may submit them for reimbursement. (See Katie in the office for instructions) 

• Aldi’s or Costco are good locations to buy the food. If you have any questions about any of the Lazarus House volunteer activities, or if you have suggestions that you would like to pass on, please contact Bill Scown at wnscown@comcast.net or 630 360 0905. 

Lazarus House (630-587-2144) is housed at the Free Methodist Church, 214 Walnut Street, St. Charles. It is one block west and one block south of the intersection of Routes 31 and 3rd Street. Please use the door on 3rd. Street; there is a sign for Lazarus House above the door.