Had about two sips before Jer and I spent a couple hours volunteering at Crescent City Cafe in New Orleans. That was it for the day. And, yes, I had a headache later. No photo. Too busy :).
From the journal:
Jeremy and I woke up early this morning to volunteer at Crescent City Cafe, a grassroots, nonprofit organization with a simple mission: to serve the marginalized people of New Orleans with dignity, in love.
On the first Saturday of each month, the sanctuary of Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church is transformed into Crescent City Cafe--complete with dark blue linen table cloths, fine white dishes, and silverware neatly wrapped in cloth napkins. By 7:15 a.m., volunteers are whipping up a gourmet breakfast in the kitchen while wait staff and hosts set the tables, brew coffee, pour water, and prepare to serve the 100 or more guests who will dine that day.
Guests often arrive way before the first seating at 8:30. They huddle around the door, reveling in the smell of bacon and eggs and other breakfast goods wafting under their noses. As it is often sticky hot already, they are given a glass of cold water while they wait and engaged in friendly chit-chat (my job). As soon as the food is ready, a host or hostess seats the guests and breakfast begins.
A waiter or waitress takes each guest's order, pours their coffee and juice, and serves up a hearty portion of cornbread pancakes with bacon and fried apples, lemon ricotta stuffed French toast, or whatever gourmet treat is on the menu that day. When possible, volunteers sit with guests and offer a respectful, listening ear.
By 10 a.m., guests have departed with full bellies, and, hopefully, the knowledge that they are loved by God and by the young volunteers who served them that day. The dishes are washed, the tables put away, and planning begins for next month's meal.
It's a simple concept, really, conveyed in a straightforward way. While food banks do a good job of meeting the physical hunger of the city's homeless, the leaders of the Crescent City Cafe wanted to meet their emotional hunger, as well. Serving someone a homecooked meal is an excellent way to show them you have noticed their desire for dignity and affirmation. And it gives the guests at least one thing to look forward to each month.
Footnote:
It was so great to be part of this effort to BE Jesus to some of our nation's most overlooked people. For more information on the Crescent City Cafe, go here.
***
After breakfast, Jer and I took off. We grabbed a hot roast beef Po Boy Sandwich on our way out of town (at $9 it seems the Po Boy is no longer for po boys), and followed Highway 61 over the southwest corner of Mississippi and through the heartland of Louisiana, passing this land's ubiquitous swamps and bayous all the way.
Arkansas here I come!
Rolling silverware before assuming my duty as water girl at Crescent City Cafe.
Jeremy cooking up some gourmet at Crescent City Cafe.
On the road again...
Our camping site at Chemin-A-Haut State Park in northern Louisiana. First time we broke out the 4-man REI Hobbitat tent. It felt like a mansion...
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