Tonight (Thursday, October 29) between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. our Club is scheduled to contribute 55 individually packaged dinners to homeless adults at a “tent city” as a part of the City of Springfield’s Meal Train Plus Program. Club member Kathryn Harris (image to right) arranged for Boyd’s New Generation Restaurant and Catering to prepare and deliver chicken and rice casserole dinners with green beans, and bread complete with the dishes and utensils to the homeless. Kathryn is contributing individual bottles of water for each person, and Vicki and Norm Megginson purchased and contributed mandarin oranges and cookies to round off the meal. When Kathryn asked for members to contribute to cover the cost of the Boyd’s catering and delivery ($385) at our October 25 meeting, Rod Buffington graciously offered to cover the $385 from the monies raised from the sale of his Rotary Theme Prints. We all thank Kathryn, Vicki, and Rod for their generosity.Since late September, the City of Springfield has been coordinating the delivery of meals to the homeless who have assembled at the tent city at 11th and East Madison Street because they are unable to access overnight shelters because of policies for the Covid-19 pandemic. Groups and individuals may sign up on an online calendar to participate in the Meal Train and provide meals for homeless people through November 30 when more warming/shelter space will hopefully be available. Scheduling the meal deliveries means that food does not go to waste. Meals must be delivered to the locality, but no meal service is required. According to the City’s website "The goal is simple: to provide a meal for adults who are unable to find shelter at another agency. It is requested that each meal also comes with disposable plates, utensils, napkins along with single serving drinks (e.g., water, lemonade).” If there is food leftover after an event, it is collected and taken to another locality where it is needed. This effort is a collaboration of the City, Heartland Continuum of Care, and the group Helping the Homeless in Springfield, IL. We are happy to participate in this thoughtful and needed program.