When eight employees from Leprino Foods walked into Samaritan House 48th, they expected a day of service and team-building. What they didn’t expect was how much the experience would stay with them.
The visit began with a tour led by shelter supervisor, Denise Chavez, who painted a picture of daily life inside the Catholic Charities property and the many ways our team helps neighbors get back on their feet. Then the real work began – cleaning tables, setting up the dining area and serving a delicious lunch to Samaritan House 48th’s 256 guests. The atmosphere was upbeat and welcoming with music playing on the speaker provided by catering supervisor, Heather.
But the most memorable moments came after the trays were filled. A few of the Leprino team sat down with guests, striking up conversations that quickly went deeper than small talk.
The annual day of service that Leprino Foods started years ago provides organizations like Catholic Charities a chance for staff to have extra hands to serve and extra hearts to share.
One of the new volunteers shared that she had a chance to connect with a mother over the joys and struggles of raising children. “To connect as women about being mothers and talking about our children, and her sharing how much she loves her kids even when they don’t have a great relationship was cathartic,” she said.
Another volunteer shared that she had an instant sense of friendship: “There was a girl that I passed during lunch, and I looked at her, and thought, that could be one of my friends.”
What started as a company service project became something more – connection with others and understanding. For the Leprino Foods team, it wasn’t about serving lunch – it was about seeing the humanity they share with people they came to serve.
Interested in volunteering as a group?
Catholic Charities welcomes corporate teams looking for meaningful, hands-on service opportunities. Serving a meal together is a great way to build teamwork while making a real difference in the community. To learn more or schedule a group volunteer day, visit https://ccdenver.org/corporate-engagement/