Thursday, May 22, 2025: It Takes a Village
(Dan, Cathy, Jeanine with salad, David and Peter in the kitchen at Sanm Jones. We discovered bread is much loved by the residents -- and thus the loves ready for cutting)
Dear Sisters and Brothers of Emmaus and beyond:
Yesterday we once again fed more than 150 people at Sam Jones Shelter. Like so many times before we needed the entore team to make it happen.
Ever since Denise Dixon invited us to join her in feeding the homeless we have all taken part as important members of this caring and joyful “supply chain.” Before Covid we met in the kitchen at Sam Jones and happily cut, chopped, boiled, braised and cooked Wednesday dinners. Denise had a number of tried and tested hearty meal recipes which she shared with us. If we were luckly enough to get a kitchen job we did them with verve. And behind us were Sisters and Brothers who decided to share talents for making salad and the beloved brownies. And I do mean beloved. These delicious chocolate confections remind everyone of home or a happier, simpler time … and I’ve seen tears well up in people’s eyes as they receive them. Each brownie tells them “You are seen. You are not alone.”
Covid hit and Denise continued. We backed her with food delivery at Resurrection Parish and all of us delivered various foods – some came from many miles away - Patti, Dan, JoAnn and Jim and others from Sonoma, Mary and Ed, Nancy and Bob from Petaluma… and we kept it going.
A few months ago we returned to the kitchen. It’s a bit stricter – only 4 Emmaus folks allowed in the kitchen and 1 or 2 designated dessert deliverers who can come just before dinner starts at 6:00. For us that is the always ebullient Pat O'Connor who expertly drives a dessert cart and welcomes everyone to partake of dessert (alive, alive O).
Last night for the first time we missed Denise who has taken a well deserved vacation in Hawaii. We decided to go ahead in her absence keeping our commitment to the third Wednesday of each month. And so we shopped - Peter, Cathy and David. We thought through a menu and chose the kitchen team – Dan Vrooman, Peter, Cathy and me. We gratefully received monetary donations from Alice, Marcie, Nancy and Bob, Hermine and Jerry. And salads and brownies poured in – a plethora of riches. Victoria baked 36 rich chocolate beauties (and so many more through the years) , Linda with 2 platters of brownies and desserts, Phyllis Bazzano with a massive salad of mixed vegetables and greens, Mary Maloney, Sue Owens, Kim Rosales, Jeanine and so many more. We are truly blessed in our community and our friendships.
The team is large and wonderful! (And if I’ve left anyone out please let me know – We want to acknowledge and celebrate every person who helps or contributes in some way.
We started cooking with cutting the onions (peter very fast at dicing). Dan and Cathy cutting a box and a half of broccoli, more onions and miniature tomatoes. David opening cans of tomato sauce and mixing it.
I must say Cathy Schneider is a wonder in the kitchen who understands the way of meal prepo. In her very soft and calm voice she notes the important details. “Did you remember to add the Italian seasoning to the sauce,?” “How about dressing for the salad… do we have any” (I cringed – I forgot to bring any -- but Cathy and Dan mixed up a batch from various sources. And finally Cathy was beside me as we served and she had to remind me to add bread to the plates… Cathy is a presence who sees the whole field.
Wer served seconds and then more people arrived and we served the remainder of our chicken in red sauce over bread. We gave away the brownies and it was heartening toi hear that indicviduals were picking up the brownies for friends or for a late night cup of coffee or to go with the next day. Very special little packages of goodness and home.
And so we ended our day and said our goodbyes. We had plenty of food thanks to YOU -- our village. Amen!
Comments
Post a Comment