Avi's Sunday at the Soup Kitchen
Avi didn't want to spend Sunday at the soup kitchen. There was a new episode of their favorite show, and Jin had invited them to play at the park. But Dad said, "We committed to volunteering, and tzedakah means following through."
They arrived at Hope's Kitchen at 7 AM. The building smelled like onions and bleach and something unidentifiable that was probably kindness. Mrs. Watkins, who ran the place, handed Avi a hairnet and an apron three sizes too big. "You're on bread duty."
Avi sliced bread for two hours straight. It was boring. Then the doors opened, and the people came in. A dad carrying a sleeping toddler. An elderly woman with a shopping cart full of everything she owned. A teenager not much older than Avi, looking at the floor like they wished they were invisible.
Avi served each person a plate with the biggest smile they could manage. Some people smiled back. Some didn't. The teenager looked up when Avi said, "I put extra bread on yours — the butter's really good today." For a split second, something shifted in the teenager's eyes. Not quite a smile, but something close.
On the drive home, Avi was quiet. "You okay?" Dad asked. "I didn't know," Avi said softly. "I didn't know that people in our own town were hungry. I see these people at the grocery store and at the bus stop and I never knew."
Dad nodded. "That's why we go. Not to feel good about ourselves. But to see people — really see them." Avi looked out the window at the familiar streets that suddenly felt different. "Can we go back next Sunday?" Dad smiled. "Absolutely."
Talk about it
Avi served food at a soup kitchen and saw people in their community with new eyes.
Three questions for lights-out
- Why didn't Avi want to go to the soup kitchen at first?
- What do you think changed for Avi while serving food?
- Have you ever helped someone? How did it make you feel?
Words worth knowing
- tzedakah
- A Hebrew word meaning giving to others and helping people in need
- volunteering
- Choosing to help other people without getting paid for it
- committed
- When you promise to do something and you follow through
- invisible
- Feeling like nobody sees you or notices you're there
- kindness
- Being nice and caring about how other people feel
How do I explain homelessness to my child?
This story shows that people experiencing homelessness are real people in your community who deserve to be seen and treated with respect. You can talk about how some families face hard times and need help.
My child doesn't want to volunteer. What do I do?
Avi didn't want to go either—that's normal. Focus on the commitment rather than excitement. Sometimes showing up is the first step to discovering why something matters.