Foodie with a mission

I love cooking. And I love igniting people with purpose that is greater then themselves. Today, both of these passions collide into what I know will be an amazing day. Later this afternoon I join a 12 member team from Bloom to prepare and share a meal at the Family Place , a day shelter for homeless families in St Paul, MN. Not only do I get to cook with friends from my community, but we also get to experience the joy of serving others from our community in St Paul who are at the moment in need.

Our community embrace team fell in love with this organization the moment they connected. Not only are they committed to help families who have had the unfortunate turn toward homelessness get back on their feet, but they are also committed to educating others about the true face of homelessness in Minnesota. Much to our own surprise, 47% of the homeless population in St Paul is youth and children. Like many, we assumed the face of homelessness was predominantly adult men, until the Family Place introduced us to a group of the kids playing with toys in their family room.

The Family Place provides a shelter out of the cold for families to gather and provide support, comfort and direction as they move forward, which is a welcome alternative to having to ride the city bus all day, walk the skyway system, or avoid mall security to stay warm. The shelter has showers, laundry facilities, and computers and staff to assist in job searches and placement in affordable housing.

What caught our attention the most was their commitment to dignity and community connection. And no where is this commitment more obvious then at the dinner table. The food that is prepared by communities of faith and other volunteers is served family style. There are no cafeteria lines, paper plates, or people behind counters handing out food. We all sit together around set tables, volunteers and new friends, and we break bread together in a moment that demonstrates we all have need, the daily need for nourishment. Children, who may have sensed their parents loss of circumstantial control, get to experience their own parents putting food on their plates from dishes at the center of the table.

I had the fortune of planning our team’s menu. I spent quite a bit of time thinking it through. We wanted our meal to not just be food, but a piece of our community. We wanted the dishes to represent us and what we eat at our tables. We want those we meet this afternoon to sense that even in the food we are offering a piece of ourselves, our families, and our own personal histories.

I can’t wait to get the apron on, sharpen the knives, and get to cooking. I can’t wait to see the face of one of my new friends as they take that first flavorful bite. It will be a moment where the mission of Bloom comes alive anew for me, the mission to create opportunities for people to experience the grace of God.

Our Menu:
- Mama Judy’s Beef Au Jus Sandwiches
The best part of this is that Mama Judy herself got excited about what we are doing and has been making 26 lbs of the most tender, succulent beef that has been cooking in an au jus that kings would bathe in if they could.
- Rodney Beans
Our friend Rodney is our AV Team leader and he comes from the great state of Mississippi. His recipe is not for baked beans, it is for “Rodney Beans.” These beans typically make their appearance at Memorial day parties, Super Bowl parties, or on occasions where we beg him to make them.
- Oriental Cole Slaw
We were looking for something with a tangy crunch and thought this would create a good balance to the other dishes. We took a look at several recipes and pulled the best. We’ll see how it goes.
- Corn Bread
This name is a misnomer since it is more like corn cake. This down South recipe has an incredible balance of savory and sweet. This recipe shows up at Joy’s table, Dawn’s parties, and has accompanied Mama Judy’s sandwiches in the past. Our new friends will think these moist bites are dessert.
- Chocolate Cake
Bruce and Susan will be bringing a family recipe and Stephanie will be making a few of her cakes with our girls to give us a head start. We hope they like chocolate, because these cakes will have plenty

If you are looking for a meaningful opportunity to connect with the community of St Paul, check out the Family Place.