engineer associate professor, tackles a tray of
dirty dishes. Wichita State’s crew of volunteers
is one of a number of other company and
organizational groups that have joined with the
professional staff of the Lord’s Diner to help
feed the hungry.
WSU vice president and general counsel Ted Ayres’ call for volunteers to help out at Wichita’s Lord’s Diner — which feeds those in need with hot, nutritious meals — elicited a chorus
of yeses.
Since January, some 60 Shocker faculty and staff members have gone through training to become licensed food handlers.
Now divided into three teams, the volunteers serve as greeters, food handlers, dishwashers, bussers and wait staff every third Friday of each month.
July 17 is one such WSU volunteer
night at the down-town diner, which
opened Feb. 13, 2002 and served its
1 millionth person in April.
Wendy Glick, the diner’s executive
director, reports that a growing number
of people are making use of the
community resource this summer. “The average number of people we serve is 450. On June 30 we set a record of 613,” she says. “And I think we’re going to break that.” The largest increase, she notes, is families with children.
affairs staff assitant,
visits with a Lord's
Diner patron.
“Each group of volunteers has its own personality,” Glick says. “Some are a little persnickety — the WSU group is not one of them! They’re fun, very positive and have a great work ethic.”
Among the Shockers lending helping hands on the third Friday of July are Vincent Miller, associate director of institutional research; Augustine Collard, administrative assistant for the physical plant’s auto service department; Arlene Thomas, assistant dean for Barton School budgets; Margaret Ochs, retired membership coordinator at the alumni association; Edie Brown, academic affairs staff assistant; Mike Jorgensen, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering; Deb Byers, director of financial aid; Sheri Alexander ’98, who holds a bachelor’s degree in social work; and Cecilia Rogers, a public service administrator in financial operations.
Why volunteer their time — especially on a fine Friday summer night? Their answers may vary, but the underlying reason is simple and the same. As Rogers explains, “I like to help people.” Alexander adds, “It feels good at the end of the night.”
