Last week, articling students from Dentons served dinner to more than 200 in-need Toronto residents as part of the Lawyers Feed the Hungry (LFH) program, run by LSUC.
Dentons also sponsored the meal to help support the financially overburdened program.
The firm’s 14-person articling class, bedecked in white aprons and latex gloves, poured coffee and served sausages in the LSUC cafeteria. Later in the evening, after the cafeteria had been cleaned, the program’s more seasoned volunteers served the students themselves.
“This is going to change the way we do this,” said David Bronskill, LFH veteran of 13 years and a partner at Goodmans LLP. While law firms often sponsor LFH meals, this is the first time a firm has turned the dinner into a social event.
The program now serves upwards of 100,000 meals a year, and at more than $4 a head, the expense is becoming unsustainable.
The law society hopes that Dentons, as one of Canada’s top law firms, will inspire others to become more involved too.
Amanda Ross, Wednesday night’s volunteer coordinator, and Sara Lefton, assistant director of student programs at Dentons, together created the event. By the end of the night, the two ladies looked pleased with the result.
Though the room was unusually full of volunteers and thin on guests — diners are called guests and it’s very important to the organizers that they’re treated like guests in a home — the atmosphere was one of positivity and energy.
In the end, the students came away with a great experience, a sense of satisfaction, and a good meal.
Not only was it gratifying, says Mark Cavdar, an articling student at Dentons, “it [was] actually fun.”
Photo courtesy of the Law Society of Upper Canada