Welcome To Temple Beth El!

Asbury Dining Center

Asbury Dining & Caring Center

The Dining & Caring Center is a place where all in the Rochester community are invited to receive nutritious meals and other supportive assistance in a respectful, welcoming environment. With only one full-time paid staff member and more than 250 volunteers, we work hard to meet the needs of those who hunger both physically and emotionally. Serving more than 30,000 meals annually and assisting with job placement, health issues, and housing, guests leave with full stomachs and a sense of hope for the future.

PREPARING & SERVING LUNCH ON 12/24 AND BREAKFAST ON 12/25:

 Temple Beth El will be running the Asbury Dining & Caring Center preparing and serving lunch on Sunday, December 24 AND breakfast on Monday, December 25.  Asbury is a place where anyone in need may receive a hot, nutritious meal and other supportive assistance. Since 2012, TBE volunteers have ensured that the Dining Center can open on Christmas day, and the staff may enjoy the holiday. 

  • WE NEED BAKERS – We will provide home-baked goods – here is what is needed:  
  • For 12/24 Lunch: We need desserts (cakes or cupcakes)
  • For 12/25 Breakfast: We need muffins or other breakfast pastries
  • For Both Meals: We need cookies or other small baked goods which will be bagged to go home with the guests

Please register first before you start baking let us know what you are thinking of baking.  Please send an email to Lisa Tellem and let her know what you are planning to bake and your guess as to the numbers, so that we have the right amounts for the meals and in the bags sent home with the guests.  Baked goods can be dropped off at TBE on Wednesday 12/20 (8:30 – 6), Thursday 12/21 (8:30 – 6) and Friday 12/22 only between 8:30 – 10AM. For desserts and breakfast items that may be perishable, please bake them closer to 12/22.  Please make sure you let us know if your baked goods contain any nuts. 

  • HELP COOK BOTH MEALS IN ADVANCE – DATE & TIME TBD – We need a few people to help cook in the TBE kitchen.
  • CLOTHING DRIVE – We are collecting new hats, gloves, scarves and warm socks to be distributed to the guests on 12/24 and 12/25. Adult unisex is most needed.  Please bring your items to the bins located by the TBE mail office) by 12/21.
  • HELP ASSEMBLE COOKIES/BAKED GOODS AND CLOTHING – MORNING OF 12/22 – We need several volunteers to assemble cookies/baked goods and items from the clothing drive into bags at TBE. The guests will be given the bagged baked goods to take to their homes.

LUNCH ON DECEMBER 24 AT THE DINING CENTER –

Temple Beth El volunteers will be doing it all. All ages are welcome. We need help:

  • Preparing the meal (starting at 10, with others needed throughout the morning)
  • Setting up; decorating (10:30 – noon)
  • Helping plate food in the kitchen; pouring beverages (11:45 – 1:30)
  • Serving meals (noon – 1)
  • Gift bag distributors as guests leave (noon – 1:30)
  • Dish washing (1 – 1:30)
  • Clean up and freeze/store leftovers (1 – 2)

BREAKFAST ON DECEMBER 25 AT THE DINING CENTER –

Temple Beth El volunteers will be doing it all. All ages are welcome. We need help:

  • Preparing the meal (starting at 6, with others needed throughout the morning)
  • Setting up; decorating (6 – 7)
  • Helping plate food in the kitchen; pouring beverages (6:45 – 9)
  • Serving meals (7 – 9)
  • Gift bag distributors as guests leave (7 – 9:30)
  • Dish washing (9 – 9:30)
  • Clean up and freeze/store leftovers (9 – 10)

If you want to volunteer, please sign up by Wednesday December 20 using the on-line registration form or email/call Carol Konuksever at (585) 473-1770.  Because volunteer registrations will be on-line and also through Carol, and we need to fill each of the volunteer opportunities, please be flexible with the final schedule.  Feel free to register for both days, although we will try to place as many volunteers as possible.