{"id":9699,"date":"2022-05-17T18:06:35","date_gmt":"2022-05-17T18:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/?page_id=9699"},"modified":"2026-06-17T19:28:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T19:28:24","slug":"dining-hall-volunteers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/serve\/dining-hall\/dining-hall-volunteers\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteering at the Dining Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-9699\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-9699-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-9699-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/serve\/dining-hall\/\">< back to Dining Hall<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-9699-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-9699-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7pDPi5d9HYk?si=HXEkzEr5r32SpM7C\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-9699-1-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-1-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div id=\"toggle-wrap\" class=\"toggle-container\"><div class=\"toggle-entry\"><h3 class=\"toggle-title\">What\u2019s this all about?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"toggle-content\"><p> Hamline Church Dining Hall is the oldest continuous concession at the Minnesota State Fair. 2026 marks our 129th anniversary. The Dining Hall is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the 12 days of the Fair. The Dining Hall is staffed almost entirely by volunteers, whose generous support is crucial to our success. Our volunteers come from our own church family and friends and from our neighbors in the community.<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"toggle-entry\"><h3 class=\"toggle-title\">What do I get for volunteering?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"toggle-content\"><p> If you volunteer, we provide a free ticket into the Fair and a free meal during you shift. But that\u2019s just for starters. You also get to experience the great fellowship and fun that comes with working alongside other volunteers of all ages. You also get the chance to be the face of Hamline Church, offering our radical hospitality to our guests.<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"toggle-entry\"><h3 class=\"toggle-title\">What position should I sign up for?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"toggle-content\"><p> If you are new to the Dining Hall, volunteering to be a Dining Room Attendant is a great introduction to the operation. You\u2019re primarily responsible for busing tables, serving coffee and ice water, and generally assisting customers. But there are lots of other opportunities\u2014Serving Line, Food Prep, Dish Room, Cashier, etc.\u2014and several shifts to choose from: Breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Lunch from 10:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; and Dinner from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can view all the positions (with brief descriptions) by going online (hamlinechurch.org, click on Sign Up Central, and then click on the volunteer button\u2014this will take you to the SignUpGenius platform). Some positions have age restrictions.<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"toggle-entry\"><h3 class=\"toggle-title\">How do I sign up to volunteer?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"toggle-content\"><\/p>\n<p>Visit hamlinechurch.org\/sign-up-central and click on the &#8220;Volunteer at the Dining Hall&#8221; button. This will open our sign up page. Scroll through the sign up listings and select a day, a shift, and a position and submit your selection. You\u2019ll need to establish an account to sign up, but it is just your email address and a password.<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"toggle-entry\"><h3 class=\"toggle-title\">What should I wear?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"toggle-content\"><\/p>\n<p>It can get very warm in the Dining Hall in late August, so you\u2019ll want to dress in cool, comfortable clothing. If you\u2019re working around food, you\u2019ll need a hair covering. (We have bandanas available.). For safety reasons, you must wear close-toed shoes.<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div> <div class=\"toggle-entry\"><h3 class=\"toggle-title\">How do I get there?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"toggle-content\"><p> Finding a parking spot is always an issue, so if you\u2019re driving be sure to give yourself extra time. You can also use the shuttle buses from the various Park \u2018n Ride locations, but these too can fill up. Volunteers are welcome to park in the Hamline Church parking lot and take the Metro transit A Line bus that runs along Snelling Avenue about every 10 minutes and will stop at Snelling Avenue and Midway Parkway\u2014just across from the main entrance to the Fairgrounds. The south-bound A-line buses stop at Como Avenue and Snelling Avenue, across the street from the southeast entrance to the Fairgrounds. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-9699-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-9699-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2>Job Descriptions:<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"no-wrap\"><strong>Morning Shift:<\/strong> 6:30am-<\/span><span class=\"no-wrap\">11:00am<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Afternoon Shift:<\/strong> 10:30am-3:30pm<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"no-wrap\"><strong>Dinner Shift:<\/strong> 3:30pm-<\/span><span class=\"no-wrap\">8:00pm<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-14668 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/suare2-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/suare2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/suare2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/suare2.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Serving Line<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Standing on serving line, plating food for customers from menu items, also making toast. MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dining Room Attendant <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">* Beginner Friendly!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Bus tables, serve coffee &amp; water, stock condiment trays &amp; napkin holders, assist customers. MUST B E AT LEAST 12 YEARS OLD<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dining Room Greeter <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">* Beginner Friendly!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Manages customer traffic flow at end of Serving Line - Assists with beverages<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dining Room Coffee Guru<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Keeps coffee brewing during Breakfast Shift. MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cashier<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Operates cash register in Dining Room ringing up customer food orders. MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-9699-2-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-2-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>Food Prep<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cold food preparation: cutting fruits and vegetables, making salads &amp; sandwiches, slicing pies &amp; cakes. MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pancake &amp; Egger Maker<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Combined duties: Assists in making pancakes and Hamline Eggers (ham, egg &amp; cheese on english muffin). MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Outside Window Sales Assistant<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fills customer take-out orders. MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD<\/p>\n<p><strong>Outside Window Sales--Cashier<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Manages cash register at Outside Window. MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Runner (outside window)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>carry food items from kitchen to outside sales window and assist window team<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sidewalk Attendant<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Works the sidewalk crowd, encouraging diners to join us.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dishroom--Window<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Scrapes plates &amp; trays into garbage\/recycling\/composting containers<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dishroom--Washer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Runs dirty dishes through dishwasher. MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dishroom--Clean End<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Returns clean dishes to work stations. MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-9699-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-9699-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2>Dining Hall 50-Year Award Volunteers<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-9699-4\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-9699-4-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-4-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"6\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>1988* to present day<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1988\u2028<\/strong><br \/>\nArdith Force<br \/>\nHildegarde Cheatham<br \/>\nClyde Manchester<br \/>\nHelen Jaeger<br \/>\nDewey Force<\/p>\n<p><strong>1989\u2028<\/strong><br \/>\nScott Johnson<\/p>\n<p><strong>1990<\/strong><br \/>\nDorothy Demaree<br \/>\nJean Frank<br \/>\nMarie Paulson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-9699-4-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-4-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"7\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>1994<\/strong><br \/>\nWally Bakken<br \/>\nHelen Bakken<\/p>\n<p><strong>1998<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Davis Family<\/p>\n<p><strong>2007\u2028<\/strong><br \/>\nDiane Milbrandt<br \/>\nBetty Ward<br \/>\nAileene Vanderbilt<br \/>\nElaine Christiansen<br \/>\nKay Keenan<br \/>\nBonnie Iverson<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-9699-4-2\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-4-2-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>2015<\/strong><br \/>\nDennis Boom<br \/>\nVirginia Anderson<br \/>\nJane McEvoy<br \/>\nPam Christopherson<br \/>\nPenny Sandahl<\/p>\n<p><strong>2017<\/strong><br \/>\nJudy Hartman<br \/>\nDennis Abbott<br \/>\nJan Bajuniemi<br \/>\nTom Beach<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-9699-5\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-9699-5-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-9699-5-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"9\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><em>* These are the names taken from State Fair records of competitions and awards. As you review the listing and note any omission, please let us know.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Another resource of dining hall earliest volunteers are those named in Hildegarde Cheatham\u2019s recollections from 1897 to 1989. She names over 100 volunteers in her story. They include Kay Shaw, Gil Ward, Mel and Aileen (Jack) Vanderbilt. Angela Greiling, Maren Sand, Lisa Gruetzmacher, Katy and Karen Kellet, Brenda Hoffman, Dan Milbrandt, Kevin Abbott, Dave and Sharon Huggett, Kay Sach, Nancy Lorey, David and Alice Meppen, Pastor Rick Ireland, Pastor Betty Schilling, Phyllis Wilcox, Neil Dotson, Sally and Irwin Nelson, Kim Greutzmacher, Esther Tessman, Merrill Robinson, Gladys Helling, Dick Hesselgrave, Erwin and Choral Brinkman, George and Ardis Harrison and Carol, J. Russell Sweitzer, Dick Hesselgrave, Bob Brokopp, Elaine Anunson, Dorothy Fair Snyder, Buzzy Cheatham, Claude Ludwig, Lloyd and Ruby Bailey, Pastor Leslie Drake, Joe and Grace Jack, Ron Hillstrom. Olive Cummings, Magda Goran, Marion Klug, Louella Murray, Irene Abbott, Ruth Olander, Delores Jenkins, Lloyd Simmons, Roy Irons, Jean and Burt Frank, Harvey and Virginia Dartt and four daughters, Stella Lloyd, Joe and Myrtle Malmstrom, George and Mildred Springborg, Clara Barnum, Pastor Bruce Buller, Pastor Ernie\u2028Lowe, Alice and Almond Colbiornsen, Clyde and Faith Manchester, Dr. C.P. Montgomery, Helen and Leonard Jaeger, Dora Hendrickson, Blanche Hoke, Mrs. Williams, Ken Fuelner, Verle Horton, Dorothy and John Demaree, Mrs. Jewell, Mrs. T. Kay, Bert and Frances Merk Wallace, Esther Merk, Wesley Nelson, Alma Gasslander, Mrs. and Pastor R.N. Avison, Alberta and Arthur Lunsted, Henry Mattson - who represent the hundreds of volunteers through the years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>< back to Dining Hall Frequently Asked Questions\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13394,"parent":745,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/template-full-width.php","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9699","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9699"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15102,"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9699\/revisions\/15102"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/745"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hamlinechurch.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}