We are now entering our third year of meal deliveries, something that makes our heads spin in circles to consider. Where has the time gone? So much has happened since we first offered prepared meals to share with our neighbors. The world has shifted on its axis in many ways; much of the past two+ years was spent reevaluating how we live. We miss much about pre-pandemic life, the ease with which we interacted with people and tried new things. But we also know that every shift offers an opportunity for growth and a chance to reimagine how we live and connect with each other.
We began offering meal deliveries to residents in Empire and Glen Arbor during February of 2020. There was only a faint hint of what was to come, and the needs we were addressing at the time felt simple: rural Leelanau County residents needed better access to healthy, flavorful meals. Within a month of creating an option for our neighbors, that need heightened as having contact-less meal delivery options became necessary.
At the same time that we were discovering the importance of the service that we offered, we started paying attention to other needs that existed throughout our community. There has been a sense of isolation throughout the pandemic, with many people unable to gather together. This is something we know to be a deep loss, as sharing meals with people is such a grounding ritual across all cultures throughout history. Sure, sharing meals together is convenient as it enables groups of people to share the load of cooking and cleaning, but I think we can all agree it is more than that. There is something spiritual about enjoying a meal with loved ones. The experience of toasting a glass across the table to celebrate a friend’s achievement or the kindness of bringing a casserole to comfort after the loss of a loved one is familiar to us all. We know the importance of sharing meals, of clinking glasses on an important evening, of nourishing those in need. Unfortunately, this ritual became more challenging to practice throughout the pandemic.
But of course, our neighbors know best. And slowly, throughout the pandemic, we had one or two of our customers buy a meal to send to a friend. We all began to realize that when we couldn’t gather together for a delicious meal, the next best option was to send one to a neighbor. And so, around this time last year, thanks in part to a generous donation, we introduced our Community Fund.
The Community Fund is a way for our customers and neighbors to connect around a meal, even when we cannot share it in person. Starting last February, we began delivering meals to local individuals and families nominated by folks in the community. The intent is to share the love of good food and hopefully to help brighten someone’s week in the process. Whether the recipients need connection, relief from high grocery bills, or maybe need a night off from cooking as they adjust to new parenthood, the Fund offers the opportunity to extend the table from your home into someone else’s. To carry forth the age-old ritual of offering meals as a means of love and support.
Our Community Fund is fueled by donations from our customers, and you can easily contribute by rounding your meal up to the next dollar. You can also donate directly to the Fund. We are always looking for folks to share the Community Funded meals with, so if you know of a person or family in the community who would benefit from a healthy, home-cooked meal, send us an email. Recipients and donors will remain anonymous, and all donated money will go towards the Community Fund to provide meals to our neighbors.
Curious to learn more? Send us an email. We can’t wait to share some neighborly meals together.
Photos by Hallie Kohler
