As the first of what might become a monthly event, six residents of Providence Mount St. Vincent made sandwiches for Seattle's Union Gospel Mission that serves the needs of the greater Seattle community, especially the homeless.

The idea was the brainchild of resident Chuck Dambrosio, 76. He previously made and donated sandwiches with St. James Cathedral Parish in the First Hill neighborhood for about a year prior to living at the Mount.

"You don't have to believe in Christ," said Dambrosio. "Just make the sandwiches."

He merely wanted to "feed his brothers and sisters" while he was volunteering with his parish and now he continues to want to do the same at the Mount.

The sandwiches were made of bologna and ham.

According to Nick Schoen, neighborhood coordinator at the Mount, Dambrosio brought up the idea at a resident council meeting. Many at the meeting agreed with the idea to make sandwiches, so Schoen looked into where they could donate.

"I called churches at first and had many hesitations," said Schoen. Many had concerns with the seniors making sandwiches without food handlers permits. In the end the Mount used their administration and nutrition services and did not link up with a church, but worked independently.

The Mount's activity director Eileen McCloskey said how impressed she was with the residents' contributions.

"As far as staff, we only provided the hardware," said McCloskey. "It was a resident-motivated function."

"It was a really wonderful experience," said Ruth Pope, 79, a former volunteer at Union Gospel Mission where she helped serve food to the homeless. "I'm so glad to help because we have so much food to eat here."

Sandy Rose, another resident at the Mount, said McCloskey plans day trips for them and in the past they have gone to places like Snoqualmie. However, the group volunteer activity was something new.

"We had an assembly line going," said Rose. "I just think it's wonderful that so many people are willing to volunteer. It's really a group effort."

After the residents made approximately 30 sandwiches, McCloskey drove them downtown to the Union Gospel Mission that evening. She explained to the young man working there about who made the sandwiches and that he was "so receptive to it."

"It was a very informal thing," said McCloskey. "But we will establish a routine."

McCloskey said that they plan to have the sandwich-making volunteer activity a monthly event and they are hoping to build a partnership with the Union Gospel Mission.

Kitchen manager Reggie Tanner at the Union Gospel Mission said they make approximately 2,600 to 2,800 sandwiches a week but they still need outside help. He said that the help of the Mount is "a blessing."

"We're always looking for more groups like that to help us on a regular basis," said Tanner, who four years ago was homeless but then received help and guidance from Union Gospel Mission.

Schoen noted that sometimes people forget about the need to care for others as well.

"It was a time for the residents to give back," he said.

"We're not doing it to keep busy," said Dambrosio. "We had six people in wheelchairs. I thought it was remarkable. Helping out our brothers and sisters is the essence of what we're about."

Kristin Okinaka is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory and may be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com