Volunteers Who Show Up When it’s Hard
Winter service at The Banquet looks different once the holiday rush fades. “The lights are quieter, the mornings darker, and the sidewalks slick with ice. Yet the doors still open, the coffee still brews, and the kitchen fills with movement,” states Chris Jacob, Volunteer Coordinator. That consistency is made possible by Angels (how we refer to our volunteers) who choose to keep showing up when it would be easier to stay home.
January does not bring packed volunteer calendars. It brings resolve. Angels arrive early, bundled against the cold, ready to prep meals, serve guests, and offer steady kindness. “Many of them are familiar faces to our guests, people whose presence brings comfort and trust long before a plate is set on the table. Their service creates a sense of normalcy in a season that can feel isolating,” he continues to say.
Throughout 2025, more than 19,000 individual Angels (with over 1,500 being new to the The Banquet) and over 500 groups/organizations stepped forward to support our guests. Jacob states that “each hour given reflects a choice to care, not just when it is convenient, but when it truly matters.” These volunteers have carried the mission through snowstorms, frigid temperatures, and quiet weeks when help is needed most.
To every Angel who returned after the holidays, who worked through the cold, and who continues to serve year after year, please know how deeply you are appreciated. Your faithfulness sustains our work and reminds our guests they are not forgotten, no matter the season.
