Sandwiches on Sunday: Normal is Still Far, Far Away

Seven people gathered at the parish hall on Saturday to assemble 80 bag lunches. It would be their fourth and final Sandwiches on Sunday for the year. Volunteers had other things to do on Halloween, but on the bright side they didn't have to work on the last weekends of November (Thanksgiving) or December (between Christmas and New Year's Day).

We were finished in the record speed of an hour, because I've gotten better at taking inventory and didn't have to run to the supermarket.

On Sunday the sandwiches and the water were set out on the tables of the Redwood City community center. Within a half an hour everything was gone. Most of the 50 people served asked for an extra bag, and we were happy to accommodate them.

The next sandwich-making is January 30th. The last time we served hot lunches was December, 2019, and the community center director said she didn't know when COVID-19 safety protocols will be lifted.

We had been running low on bulk supplies like brown paper bags (500 count) and plastic sandwich bags (300 count) and had been delaying replenishment in case we went back to normal cafeteria-style meals, but it looks like normal is still far, far away.