Potluck Pics

Volunteers took the donated food and heated it up to safe temperatures using convection ovens and microwaves. Each dish was checked with a thermometer before it was placed on the steam table before serving. This was a big job that demanded the attention of a large group of volunteers. Fortunately we were provided with some dedicated helper who gave up their Christmas Day to help their brothers and sisters in need.

Potluck Pics

Volunteers of all ages came to the Mission and gave a helping hand during the Way Cool Potluck. These children were closely supervised by their mother as they waited on tables. I think they were having a good time.

Potluck Pics

Residents at the Mission were overjoyed with the Christmas Potluck. Several were lucky enough to have family members visit during the day. We all pray for a better day for all of our residents. Having a Potluck on Christmas Day helped a little. Smiles were on the faces of many.

Potluck Pics

Hundreds of desserts were prepared and served throughout Christmas Day.

More Way Cool Potluck Pics

Blue and Red came together this Christmas for a higher purpose, feeding the hungry of our community and making this Christmas Day as special as possible.

Louisville's Largest Potluck was Way Cool!

Christmas Day has been one for the history book. The Way Cool Potluck made for a special day with hundreds of prepared meals coming in from caring citizens in our community. The day began with breakfast at 7 AM. This sit down meal allowed our guests to give their orders to volunteers who acted as waiters and waitresses. Breakfast included eggs to order, sausage and bacon, blueberry muffins, biscuits, fresh fruit, oatmeal, pancakes and juice. Many had their fill as seconds and thirds were served at both the Market Street Family and Women’s Campus and the Jefferson Street Men’s Campus.

The real fun began when the Mission choir began performing at 11:00 AM, signaling the start of Louisville’s Largest Potluck: the Wayside Way Cool Potluck. Because of the generosity of hundreds, home-cooked turkeys, hams, sides and desserts were prepared and delivered to the Mission before the meal began. Residents could not believe how wonderful the meal was as they spent Christmas at the Mission, many separated from family and friends. The caring volunteers who spent the day with us helped to make this day a little brighter and full of surprises: home-cooked foods.

Residents of the women’s shelter said they could hardly believe the variety of food that was served. Each seemed to discover their favorite Christmas dish and many sampled some of Louisville’s best cooking. Hundreds of cookies and desserts lined the kitchen while turkeys and hams got their final cooking and heat-up in the ovens. Residents remarked how tender the turkeys were and how well seasoned the hams and sides had been prepared. One lady told me she just wanted to try everything, having for dessert a sampling of six different sweet treats. Another resident remarked it was just like going to Christmas dinner at his mothers.

Tears were in many eyes as they not only observed the hospitality of our volunteers and the good food, but told of the wonderful Christmas gifts that had been given their children the night before (supplied by Wayside Christmas sponsor volunteers). One lady in our Safe Haven for mentally ill women summed it up by saying “this was a Christmas meal…one like I remember when I was a child.”

This is a sampling of the many food dishes prepared:

Desserts
Kentucky Jam Cake
Italian Crème Cake
Red Velvet Cake
Popcorn Cake
Carrot Cake
Hummingbird Cake
Cheesecake
Christmas Cake
Marble Cake
Banana Cake
German Chocolate Cake
Pineapple Cake
Homemade Truffles
Homemade Turtles
Rice Krispy Treats
Homemade Fudge
Fresh Fruit
Ambrosia
Candied Apples
Apple Pie
Blueberry Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Chocolate Silk Pie
Peach Pie
Pecan Pie
Chocolate Chip Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Cherry Pie
Derby Pie

Sides
Pineapple Casserole
Broccoli Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Garlic Grits
Corn Pudding
Macaroni and Cheese
Dressing of every kind
Green Beans
Greens
Italian Green Beans
Baked Beans
Hot German Potato Salad
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberries
Rolls

Meats
Turkey: roasted and fried
Ham
Country Ham
Roast Beef
Roast Pork Loin
Beef Stew with Noodles

I have probably missed several dozen of the dishes but this gives you an idea of the variety and the care given to this meal by many good cooks in our community. Thanks for sharing your special Christmas dish with our residents. It is a wonderful, loving act of kindness.

God Bless and Merry Christmas,
Tim and Nina Moseley

PS Special thanks to the Knight Foundation volunteers for their high energy service work at the Mission. They have made an impact on the problem of homelessness and they are a wonderful group of young people.

Christmas Eve Party

Christmas came early as several hundred children received gifts from many caring sponsors from across the city. Santa worked overtime as he visited the Family and Women's Shelter arriving aboard a Metro fire truck escorted by fire men who were on duty this evening. Santa had mixed reactions from the children as caught on this photo to the left. One happy and one not too sure about all the Santa business. The evening began with Christmas songs and an evening meal. Volunteers helped to move the many gifts that had been given to our clients. Time and again our residents said "thank you and Merry Christmas" tears filling their eyes. One lady said her life had been completely changed by her experience at the Mission. All of the clients are looking forward to the Christmas meal that will start in just a few hours. It is about midnight and I have spoken to about 15 additional people in the last hour who will bring their favorite dish to the WayCool Potluck tomorrow.

Food Safety Tips for the Potluck

Each Cook should follow these keys to food safety and you will help provide safe meals at your gatherings.


*WASH HANDS- Before eating; Before preparing food; After using the bathroom; Handling raw meat or poultry; Changing diapers; and After handling pets. Use soap, warm clean water to wash and a paper towel to dry hands.


*CLEAN AND SANITIZE FOOD CONTACT SURFACES OFTEN- Sanitizing may be accomplished by using a solution of regular household bleach and clean, warm water (1 tablespoon per 2 gallons of water approx. 100 ppm) as a final immersion sanitizing rinse or by spraying or swabbing washed and rinsed surfaces.


*SEPARATE: DON’T CROSS CONTAMINATE

Separate raw from ready to eat foods; use a different utensils and cutting boards or plates between raw and cooked foods or, wash, rinse and sanitize the utensils/plates after contact with raw meat, poultry and seafood.

WayCool POTLUCK - Make It A Family Activity

Do you have kids? A great way to teach your children about unconditional love, sharing and helping those in need may be their involvement in preparing a special family dish for the potluck. Her are some suggestions.

-Tell them about the Love of God. How God loves all creation and how as His children we should care for our brothers and sisters in need.
-Let the kids help pick out the dish that you will prepare. What is their favorite dish?
-Can they go to the store with you or go for you and help purchase the ingredients with some of their money?
-Set aside a special time that the whole family can mix the ingredients or cook the meal.
-Let the kids come with you to drop off the dish.

Wow! This can be a special tradition.

WayCool POTLUCK - What We Need

If you are thinking about cooking something for the potluck this is what we are looking for:

-120 turkeys
-40 baked hams
-400 side dishes
-200 desserts

COOK IT YOUR WAY - don't be limited to turkeys and hams -- be creative - we want to serve what is special to you and your family.

Think you have a crazy dish that might work, call us or email me if in doubt.

We would like to get an idea of what to expect. Please email or call in your commitment.
tim@waysidechristianmission.org 502-345-6080 or 742-9487.

And remember, no alcohol please.

WayCool POTLUCK Taking Shape

Wondering what you can do to help the homeless this Christmas? Here is an easy way to make the holidays brighter for homeless men, women and children. As you are preparing your holiday meal at home make an extra dish and drop it off at 432 East Jefferson Street (the southwest corner of Jefferson and Jackson)all day Christmas Eve up until 11:00 AM Christmas Day. That way the homeless will get a home cooked holiday meal and may even find that special dish that made the holiday special for them in better times.

Get connected this Christmas with the spirit of giving by being part of the Wayside WayCool Potluck. We are just beginning to get early commitments. We need a lot of help to make it successful. I have a refrigerated trailer that was donated to store donated items for the meal. You do the cooking and our Christmas volunteers will do the rest. Last Christmas was the first Wayside WayCool Potluck and it was great! With your help this year will be even better. Call or email today: tim@waysidechristianmission.org, 502-345-6080 or 502-742-9487.

Thanks!