to my bosses? I don't want children down at the kitchen and dining room where we serve the indigent. Period. Yesterday, a parent bought in their 'special needs' child. He was ok, but wasn't focused very well. We have alot of unknown faces down there. One minute he was in the pantry, 5 minutes later no where to be found. We searched everywhere for 15 minutes. He comes wandering from across the street, was 'looking at the cars'. All I'm thinking is "Shlt!"he's been abducted" When found....people were like oh well, he's fine. I told the supervisor of the group that we don't know 3/4 of the people who come in there, last summer some guy came in and the next day he was in the paper for murder in Vegas (they caught him that night 1/2 mile from us). The summer before the police came in with a flier of a child molestor and someone says- he was here last night!
My boss (79) is he's ok. I could never live with myself if one of these children disappears. The depth of it never registered to her.
they bring small children who wander around, theres so much going on for a solid hour that it would be real easy.

but where should the children go if their parents or relatives are indigent? is there a separate , supervised, child eating area?

thats a tuffie...

First off.. they are your bosses... BUT there is a security issue...

I say tell them with no hesitation.. and maybe state it like you did here, so that they think... and then stand your ground, but be civil about it.

JMO

Let me be the patrol for an hour or so NO molester would dare get close to a child if I was present!!

Kind of hard to say without more details. Like where do you work and what area is it these kids are coming into. And who is it that is bringing them in there? Are some of these people just walking in off the street?

Maybe show them this:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_20118_ENG_HTM.htm

It was a sad, rare occurrence but there are risks.

I have told parents that bring children in that the children are to stay with them at all times. One was bringing her grandaughter- a little cute but too smart for her own good. One day i saw her outside, after dinner talking to a guy never sawe before and went and grabbed her and gave her what for. The grandmother too and told them if she ever is away from her for even a minute again they won't be allowed back.
It's the guest cooks, that bring the real small ones, with about 14 adults. The kids get in the way, get into the dinning area. Drives me nuts. My boss is like "the parent is responsible' I don't think so...

Of course will be civil, silly. am the manager down there.
Suppose will have to tell each group as soon as they come in, but I'd like it to get to all the groups. If Boss lady doesn't like it, I'm in trouble. Beleive me, the common sense stuff just has gone down the ddrain with her at times.

tell the boss to join mingle2 then let us at them..LOL

Yes, thats what am talking about. There are serious risks. Drifters come through. Once in awhile a new one comes in and my alarms go off like crazy. So i watch them and i ask some of the guys I trust to keep a eye on him also. Then they don't come back, one guy was really hiding his face.

She's from last century. Won't use a cell or computer. I really like her otherwise.

If they have mental problems and are homeless, they are most likely not taking their meds.

Yes, thank you. People think the homeless are all addicts. Actually maybe 25% are the rest have never learned how to function in society, lost work, poor upbringing...etc.

Worry about what you can do & let the rest go. You can't carry the wrongs of the world. It can drive you crazy.

Been there, got the sweat shirt.

How come I didn't get a sweatshirt?

Wise words, per usual.

On my watch, couldn't live with myself if something happened. I'm just like that. I couldn't imagine what it would do to the program, the community- which have worked very hard the last year to bring up the respect of and finally have. But it's not just that, all the people that would go hungry withput our services...it goes on and on.

From your post I haven't quite gathered where it is that you work. From the sound of it it's a soup kitchen or such? Anyways there are some places that doesn't allow children in large community kitchen areas. There are also community kitchen handbooks that gives suggestions on handling childcare keeping the children out of the kitchens.

Although it has been running for about 14 years, no one really took it by the horns and things were progressively going down hill. It was a mess, every way. I came in last March and cleaned it up , it's a meal program, not soup as they always corrected me. Everyone who cooks brings in a full course meal. Know at times they can't get a sitter but have heard, we wanted them to get the exposure. Am drafting up a letter to go out and am going to try to get that in there. The board has to approve the final draft.