Woman´s Lunch Place

Dignity is everything

Volunteer Party 2008

May 20, 2008

The crowd watched, amazed, as sushi knives flitted through the air and rosettes were magically transformed from a simple tube of butter cream frosting. Not exactly a typical meal for a women's shelter, but then again, this was no ordinary evening. On April 17, more than 70 of the Women's Lunch Place volunteers gathered to celebrate their hard work and dedication to serving poor and homeless women in Boston. This signature event was held at the shelter's 67 Newbury Street location and made possible with underwriting support from the Federal Home Loan Bank.

Being that food plays such an essential role at the Women's Place, Volunteer Coordinator Lisa Schottenfeld chose to focus the even on this theme. She recruited WLP volunteers Marisa Iocco, co-founder of Boston restaurants Bricco, Mare and Umbria; Glenn Quirion, proprietor of Sweet Tooth Boston bakery, Kenshi Imura of Cambridge's Café Sushi, and Frank Gallagher, fiancée of WLP Program Director to host cooking demonstrations and provide samples of their goods. Iocco prepared a tasty mozzarella risotto, Quirion, a brief foray into cake decorating, Imura, a no-nonsense guide to rolling sushi, and Gallagher, a tasty seafood risotto. In addition to the tasty treats provided (there were no leftovers to speak of) an exquisite spread of salads, chicken and dips was provided with a special discount by Baker's Best of Newton.

With soft jazz playing in the background by Bop Kick of Boston, volunteers, staff, and WLP board members ate and talked the night away. At the end of the evening, Schottenfeld thanked volunteers by presenting them with homemade cookbooks, featuring the favorite recipes of staff and volunteers. Each cookbook featured a unique cover, hand painted by a WLP guest. Many volunteers commented that this was the best volunteer appreciation event yet. WLP is exceptionally grateful to our chefs, Baker's Best, Board member Joanne Sullivan, Lily Bryant, Mark Zelemyer and their colleagues at the Federal Home Loan Bank, for making this unforgettable evening possible.

The Women's Lunch Place
(617) 267 1722
67 Newbury Street
Boston, MA, 02116