Volunteering in the Kitchen
Welcome to our First Look Experience into volunteering with KARM! For those who don’t know me, I’m Laura Lee. I am a new hire at Knox Area Rescue Ministries, joining as a Copywriter! I hope this article inspires you to sign up to volunteer to have your own First Look Experience!
For my first day at KARM, I wanted to volunteer in the Kitchen as a part of my orientation. The moment I stepped in, a savory aroma filled the room as the cooks prepared the lunch dishes for the day. The kitchen was medium-sized, with bright lights and plenty of smiling faces.
Arrayed around the room were stoves and ovens, each occupied by chefs and guests. Past that area stood the room where food donations resided. There were huge freezers and shelves packed full of groceries ready to be cooked up and served.
As you went further into the kitchen, you would find yourself at the food line. From across the way was an area to form a line with a TV playing encouraging messages and informing about important events.
Soon after, I was introduced to Isaac, one of KARM’s Cooks. He kindly gave me an apron and got me right to work. He led me to the food line, gave me a brief understanding of how it worked, and put me in charge of bread and green beans. He then took the time to thank me for being there and went back to the task at hand.
Before the doors were opened, volunteers filtered around grabbing food and filling the food line. With my lack of experience, I found myself feeling in the way. After all, I didn’t know where anything was! So before I could do my assigned task, I just found little jobs I could while I waited. Thankfully, the atmosphere of the volunteers and staff helped me feel that even though I might have been clueless, I was a part of their team!
As the volunteers were preparing, they made small talk and we introduced ourselves. They seemed excited that I was joining them, which helped me to feel right at home. In the conversation, I asked them how often they serve. Many of them mentioned they serve multiple times a week, some serve every Monday, or have a set schedule they follow. I was amazed by their dedication.
Though what I noticed the most was the joy that lived in the kitchen. The volunteers all had such great smiles and seemed overjoyed to serve. One volunteer in particular is known for his puns and rhymes. Often dedicating one volunteer, named Cooper, the “Super Scooper.” At one point, he made a rhyme to which I added: “It’s a thrill!” and another volunteer said, “Let it be God’s will!”
Soon, the doors were open, and women came in for lunch. The volunteers opened conversation with our guests so kindly, welcoming them in and getting their food prepared. Many of the women gave thanks as they grabbed their trays; some even made conversation with the volunteers.
Eventually, a dish would run out, but the volunteers were on it. They went and grabbed what was needed and were back in a flash. There were even some moments where Isaac was still in the back preparing it. We would wait and then he would come down with the dish and we would all cheer for him! He would laugh and then we would hop right back into serving.
During my time serving, I found the volunteers to be centered around community that led with an encouraging atmosphere. It was refreshing, which made my time serving even sweeter. I could see the dedication in each of the volunteers and their hearts to serve. I asked one volunteer about serving in the kitchen, to which he said, “Oh, I love it.” He shrugged and merely went back to work. It was endearing. Serving was something he enjoyed. It wasn’t a spectacle or an event, but a way of life.
For the first time, I could clearly see the need for dedicated people to continually show up for those who struggle with homelessness. Kindness and hospitality make a difference, and basic needs can be met if someone is willing to put in the effort.
What’s amazing is that you can be a part of what KARM is doing too! “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”. Philippians 2:4
Think about it, three meals a day, 365 days. That equals a need for multiple volunteers who are willing to dedicate time and effort to loving our neighbors well. And most of all, you can have fun while doing it!
There are many reasons to volunteer at KARM, and we would love for you to be a part of our mission. If you are interested in volunteering, you can go to karm.org/volunteer, or you can email Mark Roberts, mroberts@karm.org, for a tour to learn more.
Highlights
1. The day I visited, someone happened to have donated a large batch of fudge, all with different flavors such as maple and blueberry cheesecake. They were a big hit with the ladies. But I found it so sweet that someone took the time to cook a batch of goodies to donate. I never even thought about doing that!
2. During my time serving, I wasn’t just serving with volunteers; I was also working alongside guests, taking steps towards restoration through Guest Development. This allows guests to learn on the job training to ensure easier access to jobs. I enjoyed getting to know them and love waving hi whenever I see them again at the main campus.
Did You Know
KARM was able to provide 339,942 meals in 2025! We are so thankful to our generous partners who donate food to our facility. It’s a common joke that the kitchen knows how to repurpose a Chick-fil-A chicken nugget in fifty different ways!
If you are interested in donating, contact us at 865.673.6540 or by email at info@karm.org to schedule a drop-off. You can also read more information here.
Also, an amazing thing KARM does is help those struggling with homelessness take the next step forward through job training! One of the outlets for this is through the Abundant Life Catering! Guests have the opportunity to work under the supervision of a professional chef and staff to learn culinary skills and re-enter the workforce to break the cycle of homelessness in their lives. Abundant Life Catering offers seasonal menus with any taste or dietary need! For more information, go here.