30 Ways kicked off today with the Moveable Feast! I spend the morning helping to prepare lunches and dinners, then this evening delivering the meals to the families. This little building houses a fully equipped kitchen to prepare meals and an upstairs office space. This is where I met the Executive Director Terry Mullins to chat a little bit about how the organization was started this morning. MF was started in 1998 when Michael Thompson (pictured to the right), an AIDS activist, found out about an individual suffering from AIDS who starved to death just a few blocks away from City Hall. He was not able to obtain or cook food, and no one was checking on him. This preventable death shook Thompson, who decided to do something about this issue. He partnered with local restaurants to begin serving those with HIV and AIDS that were also suffering and not well enough to leave the house for groceries or meals, or even be able to prepare food in their own homes. After some time of operating out of St. Martha's Episcopal Church, they move to their current house (that was known as "Nanny's Soul Food", a favorite local restaurant at the time) that sits on Fifth Street and Silver Maple Way north of Downtown Lexington. The newly renovated kitchen inside is now the same one that helps Justin and Jennifer prepare meals daily today. In the kitchen, I met kitchen manager Justin and his assistant, Jennifer-- both are extremely passionate about the cause they are working for. Jennifer, beaming, tells me proudly that they now serve about 101 meals from Monday-Friday. Most of these are hot lunches, and 25 are sacked lunches. Some clients receive 2 meals a day, based on need. For example, 2 of the clients served are completely blind and need as much assistance with meals as possible. She smiles and tells me, "One thing that is really great about Moveable Feast is that we not only feed the client, but anyone at all in the household- family, children, or the caretaker. They are all exhausted and are all so grateful to receive a hot meal too!" They also cater to the needs of the client based on dietary restrictions. Two cannot have sugar, 1 must be gluten free, and 1 needs a special heart-healthy meal. As for the heart-healthy client, "She doesn't always like to eat off the diet her doctor has given," Justin says, with a laugh. "So we need to make sure we are serving her what she should be eating!" Jennifer and Justin cook these meals every day and are fortunate enough to receive many donations from volunteers, various people in the community, as well as restaurants that like to bring the unsellable (but still good!) products at the end of the day, such as Fresh Market, Gigi's Cupcakes, Kroger, and many, many others. Though they do receive grants, they also benefit greatly from community donations. (At the bottom of the page, find how you can help donate goods, money, or time to the Moveable Feast!) Jennifer tells me that "an incredible 93% of donations, monetary and food, go back to the clients. This is unheard of for a nonprofit. We are so proud of that." Down in the kitchen, Jennifer showed me the menu from yesterday and let me know what was on the menu for today: Lunch would be lasagna, veggies, and an apple. The hot dinner would be homemade pot pies, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, fruit salad, and a dessert from Fresh Market. While Justin prepared all of the hot food items, Jennifer and I dished up fruit bowls and desserts while we all chatted about our lives and how they led to Lexington. Taking a few minutes to step aside from business, Jennifer giggles and "secretly" pulls out her phone to show me a Youtube video of Justin performing a number from his latest show (shhh... he's an extremely talented actor/aspiring Broadway triple-threat! Watch out, New York!). Justin just blushes while he mixes potatoes, but he knows he's got talent! We have a good laugh before finishing up the meals. I have a wonderful time getting to know these two in the kitchen, but alas, our work is done! I and am told to come back in a few hours for deliveries. Part 2: Delivering the meals Drivers for the four routes are divided up with lists of clients' addresses and any special needs. I am excited to be riding with with Pat Gerhard, who you may know as the owner of Third Street Stuff, and her husband. (Ok...Can I stop and give a high five to Pat for being a business owner who works 7 DAYS A WEEK and still has time to volunteer time in her community? Is this not a fantastic, beautiful thing?! The Lexington community continues to amaze me!) Pat packs up all of the necessary meals in the warmers and coolers before we load up the van and head out. The couple has been driving the same Wednesday route for awhile now and just love seeing the faces on the clients when they arrive at each house. They know a little bit about each one and their lives or families (who also get a hot meal); it is obvious that they truly care for these people she sees every week. We drive in and out of neighborhoods that I didn't even know existed in Lexington. Because my paths would never cross with many of these citizens (they aren't exactly frequenting my yoga class or Whole Foods), it is an eye opening and humbling experience to see these communities. There are an array of buildings, from cute little houses on streets I never knew of, to dilapidated apartment buildings with tattered shades and plywood walkways in questionable condition. It could be very disheartening at various stops, but each individual is warm, inviting, and grateful of the service being provided to them. Unfortunately, I am not able to take pictures of the clients or their homes for their protection and safety. We deliver 19 meals in all, some of which were multiple meals for families and some were lunches. When I ask why only 19 meals today (normally there are more), Pat says sadly that the number can decline because "Well, they either move, or some pass away." This is the unfortunate truth for such a debilitating disease. A hot meal every day is extremely beneficial, but unfortunately cannot cure those suffering. After our route is complete, Pat and I stop and pose for a final photo with the empty food warmers before the skies opened up and poured! A successful delivery route wrapped up. Day one complete. Had a wonderful time with those I met today, and am happy to know what a great service is being done in Lexington for AIDs and HIV sufferers. I had no idea how crippling this disease was or how many were suffering right here in our own community. 29 more days of experiences like this to go. Tomorrow, I'm off to Keeneland for a benefit for The Nest! Get Involved Volunteer MF is always in need of delivery drivers to take meals to clients. Delivery times are 4:30-7 Monday-Friday. This is perhaps the most rewarding part! Limited help is needed in the kitchen during the day to help prepare meals. Donate Can't serve? Here's another way to help. Donate easily through the website, or you can also donate food to the kitchen itself (address below.) Events Host a Dinner Party for a cause! A fun way to contribute is to host a dinner party for friends for a donation to help the Moveable Feast. Street Address: 474 Silver Maple Way Lexington, KY 40598 (859) 252-2867 Email: [email protected] | Watch this video to see another perspective of volunteering, from the Moveable Feast Website. |
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June 2015
Welcome!My name is Kate and I have been in Lexington, Kentucky for a bit over 3 years. After interviewing for a position in which I was asked, "what would you do if you had 30 days to do anything?" I made a terrifying decision: I left my comfortable full-time office position to truly challenge myself to the answer to that question. My mission is to work with 30 local organizations and individuals in 30 days and document my experience here to create awareness in our community. Categories |