OSHAWA -- They began to gather shortly after three o’clock, forming an orderly and courteous line that started at a nondescript doorway and stretched along Albert Street in downtown Oshawa. 

At 3:30 p.m., the door opened and the crowd worked its way slowly down a flight of stairs. It was dinner time at St. Vincent’s Kitchen, and on a warm Wednesday afternoon in May, the enticing smells of chili and pulled pork wafted through the air. 

The hungry took their seats as volunteers filled plates with salads, main courses and desserts, then delivered them to tables with a smile. On this day members of the Durham Region Law Association were serving the clientele, fulfilling a commitment to reach out to a community they’d typically interact with in offices or courtrooms. 

On this Wednesday afternoon, volunteers hustled plates of steaming food to tables, then bustled back to fetch drinks and diners’ choices of desserts (there was some consternation when that day’s particular favourite, lemon meringue pie, ran out, but, happily, there were many other options). 

Pitching in was Oshawa Mayor John Henry, a regular volunteer. At one point he was standing by the dessert cooler, taking a breather, when a diner shyly hailed him. 

“A glass of water?” she quietly requested. 

The mayor was back in seconds. The elderly woman looked up and her weathered face broke into a warm smile. 

“Thank you, sir,” she said softly. 

“You’re most welcome,” said the mayor. 

The St. Vincent’s restaurant-style service model delivers much more than basic sustenance, said Jodi Millen, executive director of Durham Outlook for the Needy. 

“It’s not just about putting food in people’s mouths -- it’s about dignity,” she said. 

“We’ve become a place where people can come in out of the cold, out of the rain, out of the heat, and know there’s a beacon where they can meet their friends.” 

Probably the busiest person amid the humid bustle of the basement dining room was Roland Langstaff, who has volunteered at St. Vincent’s for more than 20 years; he started out as a client and now co-ordinates operations at the kitchen, which can see upwards of 200 clients in a single day, including families with children. 

In addition to feeding people, Mr. Langstaff sees it as his duty to connect with them, to make them feel they too have a place in the city. 

“I talk to them, try to cheer them up,” he said. 

The gratitude he receives in turn is ample payment for the effort, Mr. Langstaff said: “It’s the attitude of the people here.” 

The kitchen serves up tens of thousands of meals every year, a task possible only because of the dedication of volunteers, Mr. Langstaff said. He’s appreciative of groups such as the law association who have seen a need and stepped up to address it. 

“It makes me to feel good, having extra people in to help,” he said. “We really need it.” 

Volunteers the ‘bread and butter’ of Durham Outlook 

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Durham Outlook for the Needy, the community organization that operates St. Vincent’s kitchen and numerous other food distribution programs in Durham Region. 

“I am constantly, delightfully surprised at the dedication and longevity of our volunteers,” said Durham Outlook executive director Jodi Millen. 

“Volunteers are -- no pun intended -- our bread and butter.” 

While St. Vincent’s in downtown Oshawa may be the most visible of the organization’s efforts, it is far from the only one. Durham Outlook partners with agencies to provide food for women’s and homeless shelters, food banks and school breakfast and lunch programs, among others. 

Durham Outlook has established links with corporate sponsors that provide food, but it’s volunteers who drive the vans, manage the pantry, and serve the meals. At St. Vincent’s, where an average of 200 people are served each day -- that’s 50,000 meals a year -- between 1,000 and 1,200 volunteers step up each month to help. 

“Although we may be small, our volume is incredibly high,” said Ms. Millen. “Our numbers keep going up.”