Watch out world, City Chicks For Charity is on a roll! On Feb 7, 2009, the CC4C crew volunteered at the University Parish of St Joseph’s soup kitchen www.stjosephsoupkitchen.org where they rolled up their velour hoodie sleeves (or clothes from the night before) and were eager to help the homeless.

If you’re picturing a soup kitchen where volunteers just line up behind tables and are handed a giant spoon to dish out the goods, think again! The Parish refers to their soup kitchen as “the restaurant” and that’s exactly the atmosphere they want to create for their “customers.” The Chicks, along with other neighborhood do-gooders, had to transform an empty basement into a welcoming, clean and comfortable restaurant. They were tasked with jobs ranging from preparing fruit cups, making PB&J’s, to laying out donated clothing in a store-like fashion for the customers to browse. Once the tables were set and the last pair of latex gloves were thrown away, it was time to open the doors to the public. The City Chicks For Charity served kielbasa soup and everything else prepared that day until the last customer was finished. Overall, it was a very rewarding experience and makes you think twice about the next time you turn to your fellow Chick and say, “I’m so starving, I feel like I haven’t eat in days.”

December 8, 2008 – Ten rolls of wrapping paper: $20.00. Eight pairs of scissors: $24.00. Four bags of tissue paper: $15.00. Three rolls of scotch tape: $10.00. Wrapping holiday presents for those who cannot otherwise afford them: Priceless.

On a chilly Monday evening, as far east as we could go, a bunch of Chicks met at Melissa’s new apartment to start our very first Operation Santa. Of course, sustenance was needed so we enjoyed snacks and wine galore, before plopping down on the floor to begin our wrap party. Everyone pitched in and brought wrapping paper, gift boxes, tape, scissors, tissue paper and most importantly, gifts, gifts, gifts! Aly traveled back to 1987 and purchased Candy Land for a little girl in New Jersey. Julie picked up a Barbie Corvette for another little girl (even though she may have wanted to keep it for herself). Melissa found some stylish jeans, Diana bought school supplies and Margot was especially impressive with her ability to make perfect ribbon curls to go atop the boxes!

After wrapping…and gossiping and laughing…we set up all the presents and took lots of photos. Usually, there is always one person who is left out of the photo (who’s going to take the picture?) but Alicia’s handy camera was smart enough to take automatic pictures! After several funny poses, it was time to wrap up our wrapping party. Thanks to Melissa for being such a gracious hostess!

It was really amazing to have all of us together for such a worthy cause. It was a grand start to our organization’s eventful future and we can’t wait to do it again next year!