Details
Lunch in the Park is held every Wednesday & 2nd Saturday of the month at noon. For location and parking details, please SIGN UP. Training is required for all first-time volunteers.
What to Expect
- All volunteers are encouraged to sit down and talk with the men and women experiencing homelessness.
- We serve lunch for 150+ people.
- All food is provided through donations from our generous volunteersList Item #3.
FAQs
When
Each Wednesday and Second Saturday of the Month.
Training
Training starts at 10:00am. Required for all first-time volunteers. If you plan to attend training on a Wednesday, please let us know by emailing volunteer@christinthecity.org or calling Shayla at 701.833.2180.
Lunch
Lunch starts at 12pm.
Location: Benedict Fountain Park, East 20th Avenue, Denver CO
Where can I park?
At the training, you can park on any nearby streets or in the parking lot. Street parking is not metered.
At lunch, parking is metered street parking.
Do I eat lunch at the park?
We do not usually have enough food for both volunteers and our friends on the street to eat. We encourage volunteers to eat before or after Lunch in the Park. If you attend training before lunch, feel free to bring a sack lunch and eat with the missionaries before we leave for the Park.
How long do I have to stay?
You can stay however long you want, but we do encourage volunteers to stay until the end to participate in the ending prayer. On Wednesdays the ending prayer is at 1:00pm and on 2nd Saturdays it is at 1:30 pm.
Do families with small children come?
We invite families with children of all ages and love to have families participate in our mission. On 2nd Saturdays we incorporate games (i.e. Frisbee, corn hole, and soccer), to keep younger children engaged and to create a warm atmosphere. Yet, we do strongly encourage parents or legal guardians to be present and aware of their children because of the environment of the park and surrounding areas. See here how one woman brought her baby to Lunch and had a moving experience.
Is Lunch in the Park safe?
Generally, lunch in the park is a very warm and welcoming setting. However, because of the population we work with, there is always the chance that an unstable situation may arise. In the training, we go over safety protocol to prepare volunteers for any type of situation. There is also a strong police presence at the park, along with trained supervisors overseeing the event.
What am I required to do to volunteer?
For 1st time volunteers, we require a training which includes information about Christ in the City’s mission, practicalities of what to do at the park (i.e. how to start a conversation), and safety protocol. We also require adult and minor liability forms to be signed once a year for all CIC volunteers. Please note that everyone in your group must individually do a liability form. You can fill out a liability form by clicking here
Can my parish sponsor the food donations for a Lunch?
Yes, we are always looking for more food donations and parish involvement at Lunch in the Park. If your parish is interested in sponsoring a 2nd Saturday or Wednesday Lunch, Christ in the City will give you information, materials, and any assistance needed. Email volunteer@christinthecity.org with questions or ideas.