story by Siobhan Miller, photos by Adrianna Ohmes
Tuesday, December 11, 2012.
6:30 am: Coordinator of Morning Glory cafe Steve Bruns pulls into the parking lot and unlocks the door.
7:00 am: Bruns opens the cafe doors and volunteers rush in, including long time volunteer Mrs. Karen Miller. The bagels are toasted and the oatmeal is stirred as cereal drains into clean containers.
7:10 am: The volunteers gather together and begin prayer. The tables are wiped off and tablecloths draped over the large, round tables. Stacks of cups, plates and napkins are placed at the start of the assembly line.
7:30 am: The doors open and nearly 100 homeless enter the cafe in anticipation of receiving a warm breakfast, emergency care and a to-go lunch.
In 2012, the local food kitchen was moving from their previous location at 12th and Broadway to 8th and Paseo. Fearing that there would be a gap in services, Miller was asked to coordinate a new breakfast program.
“The first day only had 25 to 30 people, but within six months close to 100 people came every morning and we served 500 a week,” Miller said.
The cafe works to build relationships with their customers by allowing them to participate in prayer and engaging in conversation with them as they eat.
“We don’t want to feel like an institution but rather a welcoming place,” Bruns said.
The cafe now offers emergency assistance starting at 8:30 am. The center offers the homeless daily necessities such as clothes, food, and hygiene items.
“This way people will not have to wait an hour or so after breakfast before receiving their emergency care,” Miller said.
Morning Glory cafe is also the current benefactors of Food for Thought and the profits of their service projects, such as STA’s bake sale, are used to buy food for the program. Morning Glory asks for volunteer help with cleaning projects, serving breakfast, and restocking shelves. Miller says that service hours will be granted to any STA student interested in serving at the cafe. Bruns adds that volunteers can help in many ways, from serving breakfast to picking up food for the cafe.
“We have been so blessed by students at STA. Last year, we had an STA student who chose us as her service agency and this year we will have two,” Miller said. “We love having STA girls.”
Millers son, Rockhurst High School sophomore Sam Miller agrees with his mom that it is important for students to get involved in service such as Morning Glory Cafe.
“We don’t realize the many gifts we have until we experience serving the impoverished people ourselves and I think Morning Glory is an excellent way to do that,” Sam said.
