Montessori teacher serves A Street Shelter clients

In keeping with her late father's wishes, Montessori House of Children owner Kumi Wickramasinghe was on a mission to aid the homeless.

The Roseville teacher's research into possible beneficiaries led her to Volunteers of America, and to its A Street Shelter, where Program Director Angelo Gama helped coordinate a special feast home-cooked by Wickramasinghe and her family.

Dedicated in memory of her father — Ariya Perera — a chief inspector of the Colombo police department in Sri Lanka, who passed away in February, the May 12 supper was served by Wickramasinghe and 16 of her family, friends and young students. Sri Lankan-style chicken, rice, vegetables and potato-filled samosas were on the menu, as were such special touches as fresh flowers on each table.

"The clients really enjoyed the dinner they put on for them," said Gama. "They were so honored and grateful they were selected.

"The food was delicious — everybody enjoyed the meal and dessert. And all the servers were great, including the children who were very polite and seemed to enjoy serving our clients."

"This is a rare thing," Gama continued, "few people do something like this. These dinners are big treats for these guys. They don't get home-cooked meals very often."

Wickramasinghe said she hopes to make preparing and serving such meals at the A Street Shelter an ongoing tradition.