Sandy Curtis and Kalani Moe popped open the hatchback of their automotive and, in a practiced rhythm, unloaded a cover, a folding desk, and two steaming Crock-Pots.
The wealthy aroma of lasagna drifted by the chilly air, drawing folks from a close-by encampment towards the empty parking zone the place Curtis and Moe arrange every week. As hungry guests approached, Curtis and Moe welcomed them like household: “Come eat, sister!” and “You hungry, brother?”
Each Saturday, the married couple serve scorching meals to these experiencing homelessness. What began as a small act of kindness final fall has grown right into a mission, rooted in one thing deeply private.
For years, their son has struggled with homelessness and dependancy.
He sometimes stays together with his mother and father, though he usually leaves the following day. Throughout one go to, he revealed that staying together with his mother and father was the one time he ever had a scorching meal.
Since then, drawing upon their expertise as former caterers, Curtis and Moe have made it their mission to make sure nobody goes hungry — not their son, nor the others dwelling outdoors.
“We wanted to be able to feed our son, be able to see him and know that he was OK,” Curtis stated. “But then, with a lot of these kids — once we met them — we wondered how they were doing, and we wanted to continue reaching out to them. We want them to know that they’re not forgotten about and that we love them with no conditions, and we’ll be there for them — no matter what.”
Ohana means household
Michael Hibbert seems to be ahead to the meal all week.
“It’s my favorite day,” Hibbert stated as he grabbed a to-go field with a beneficiant portion of lasagna and a few Rice Krispie treats. “We don’t get a guaranteed meal throughout the week, but we can always count on them to be here every Saturday.”
Curtis stated she and Moe initially served 20 folks, however that quantity has grown to 60.
At first, folks have been hesitant, however now, Curtis and Moe have constructed sturdy bonds with most of these they serve. On a latest Saturday, folks approached the couple with giant smiles, some giving them updates about their life. On heat days, folks will seize their meal and sit on the grass with each other, socializing.
“We just kept telling them: ‘We will be here every Saturday around 3 p.m. Come and eat, we will feed you, and if you’re still hungry, come back for seconds. If you want some for a meal tomorrow, that’s OK, too,’” Curtis stated. “It’s taken a lot of work to get the trust of some of these people … but I think the kindness really won over their hearts.”
She and Moe serve a scorching meal with bread or rolls on the facet, together with a do-it-yourself dessert. Additionally they move out jackets and blankets that they buy or take from their very own dwelling.
“Not everyone is out here because they want to be. For me, my rent went up and my check didn’t,” stated Rhonda Keith, a former nurse. “But what they’re doing really does help us, because it’s nice to get a warm meal and know that someone is looking out for us.”
Curtis — who’s a caregiver and works weekends at a fuel station — stated she and her husband buy every thing out of pocket. The couple spends the week brainstorming, purchasing and making ready the meal they plan to serve that Saturday. Additionally they store at thrift shops and purchase clearance blankets to move out to folks. Even after they’ve handed out meals at their ordinary spot, the work isn’t over. If there’s meals left, they load up the automotive and drive to totally different encampments, ensuring that nobody goes hungry that evening.
“In Hawaii, we have a saying: Ohana. It means family and that no one is left behind,” stated Moe, who’s Hawaiian. “We take that literally. We’re not going to leave anybody behind just because they don’t have a roof over their head.”
However the couple additionally has greater goals. They’re crowdsourcing funds to purchase a meals truck. The cell kitchen would allow them to achieve much more homeless residents throughout Vancouver.
Through the years, they’ve realized {that a} scorching meal can solely achieve this a lot. Curtis has witnessed how folks battling substance dependancy are sometimes left to fend for themselves, struggling to navigate the maze of housing and well being care with little to no assist.
“We can bring them a warm meal, but there needs to be more people across the state that are doing this together. People saying, ‘We will meet you halfway. We will come to you. We are here to help,’” Curtis stated. “There are a lot of drugs out there, a lot of trauma and a lot of people who have fallen and can’t get back up on their own.”
On a latest Saturday, Curtis and her son shared a quiet, tender hug — a second of heat in the course of an in any other case chilly actuality. Her son picked up three to-go containers, one for himself and two for neighbors in his encampment who’ve bother strolling.
Curtis hopes her son will come dwelling in the future and that he’ll discover his technique to restoration. However till then, she meets him the place he’s — with out judgment, simply as she does for everybody who strains up for a meal each week.
It doesn’t matter what, subsequent Saturday, Curtis and Moe will probably be there.
