I’d like to tell you about my friend Joy.  She’s the kind of person who makes you want to be a better human.  She’s all heart, and zero judgment. And she and her friends are making a real difference in their community.

Joy is part of a grassroots gem called Kind Meals, based in Columbus, Ohio.  They are a group of regular folks who serve up home-cooked, plant-based meals to anyone who needs one.  No strings, no sermons – just good food made with love and served with dignity.

Every third Saturday of the month – rain, shine, wind, or bitter cold temperatures – Joy and a crew of kind-hearted kitchen magicians (shout out to Tabitha, Linda, Noah, Julie, Gary, Betsy, Olivia, Jenn, and Gayatri!) set up shop at a busy corner of the city.  They bring tables, a canopy, big crockpots of hot, yummy meals, compostable everything, and sweet smiles.  There’s even Hal, the DJ, playing music from his car to keep the vibe festive.  Honestly?  It sounds like more fun than most of the brunches I’ve been to.

From Chilis on Wheels to Kindness in Action

Kind Meals has been doing its thing for over six years now.  It all started when Joy and a few others in the local vegan community were inspired by Chilis on Wheels, a New York-based project started by a mom and her 9-year-old son, who served warm, plant-based chili to people in need. 

Joy and her friends started a Columbus chapter of that organization, but when they wanted to forge their own path, they launched Kind Meals with a heartfelt blessing and a generous cash starter gift from their Chilis on Wheels mentor!  “She is magic,” Joy says.  “She is doing great work.”

What’s on the Menu?

Every meal is fresh, scratch-made the day before or the morning of the event.  A recent menu included cornbread, black-eyed peas and greens, vegan mac and cheese, candied yams, sweet tea, and desserts. They always try to include something warm that will “stick to the ribs”, says Joy.  They serve about 175 meals each month, and everything is donated, cooked, and served by the volunteers.

And while not everyone is thrilled to learn that the food is vegan, most people are pleasantly surprised after the first bite. Joy estimates that about 96% of the people who try it love it!  (As for the other 4%… well, we all have that uncle who thinks tofu is a government conspiracy.)

Kind Meals: The Faces Behind the Food

Something beautiful happens when people gather with no agenda other than to nourish others.  Joy shared some wonderful stories about people she’s met over the years who wanted to find a way to contribute and give back.

For example, there was Peggy, a grandmother raising her three grandkids.  She would ask for yarn so that she could knit scarves and hats for the neighborhood children.  One day, Peggy returned with a stack of colorful homemade blankets for the team to give away.

There was a man who gratefully accepted a meal, then returned with a deck of playing cards – wanting to give something that someone else could enjoy.

There was even a young girl who, after seeing what Kind Meals was doing, came back with twelve trays of spaghetti from her house to add to the menu. 

It’s this ripple of kindness-of people being seen, fed, and valued – that turns a meal into a movement.

Beyond the Table

Of course, it’s not always easy.  Serving meals on the city streets comes with the challenges of working with all kinds of people, some with serious mental health issues. But the Kind Meals crew is trained in compassion.  Joy says she has learned to really listen to people, and to let them tell you what they need instead of giving them what you think they need.   That’s excellent advice for all of us.

Joy is now working on outreach and building relationships with other local organizations, as well as growing their email list and volunteer network.

How to Help (Even if You Don’t Live in Columbus)

If you’re in the area, you can volunteer to help cook and/or serve food.  Just contact the team through the Kind Meals website.  They’d love to have you!

For those of us a bit too far away, please consider donating.  Every little bit helps.  You can also follow them on Instagram.

Kind Meals keeps things simple:  cook with love, serve with kindness, repeat.  There’s no big budget or celebrity chef, but this group shows up every month to feed their neighbors. 

In my book, that’s what community is all about.

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I hope you enjoyed this article! Looking for more inspiration? Check out the blog about my friend Cyndy, The Shortbread Nana! And if you want regular hits of good news, yummy recipes, and cute animal pictures, why not sign up for my weekly-ish newsletter, The Scratching Post? It’s totally free and guaranteed to make you smile!