Food Service for Those in Need in Denver

March 22nd, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015 is our 25 year of meal service to those in need in Denver, and we have served over 76, 000 meals to date. Sometimes people feel uncomfortable or even a little afraid of the homeless members of our society, but in my own experience, I have never been harmed in any way or by anyone that I have met over all of these years. During our meal services, we have had the occasional guest that tries to make off with an extra meal with a tale of woes, but if anyone would ever threaten violence they would be immediately intercepted by others in the group. There are rules in any society including the transient or the homeless. “Never bite the hand that feeds you” is a rule not broken and we never worry about ourselves while serving.

Our meal service begins at 11:00 am and we serve about 300 guests outside in a service line come rain or shine. Some of our guests arrive early in the morning to stake their place at the front of the line. A few might be hungry and irritable, but a good hot meal usually brings a smile to everyone and a thank you to our staff.

After 2 years of serving at our new location, when our van carrying the meal makes the last turn into the alley where the meal is served, we are greeted with cheers and claps from all!

It is difficult to define all of our guests as homeless; we have so may now. Some are transients, some are troubled teenagers and a few ride up on nice mountain bikes with smart phones in their pockets. Some have had a bad streak of luck; lost job or home or are just in a bad way from drugs or alcohol abuse. The truly homeless population have been pushed back little; their numbers are not down, but they have a different position in the homeless community. The homeless community rules seem to be changing with an influx of so many new people on the streets.

Feeding people in need is our purpose. It does not matter to us their circumstances; we have food to share with everyone that asks. It is not for us to choose who can have a meal and who cannot based on their conditions, everyone who comes to the alley is served; there is hot food for everyone. Every day life can be a struggle for this community but at least once a month on the third Sunday of the month they can eat a hearty Japanese meal.

Our meals are not only for feeding the body but for feeding the soul as well. People do not live by bread alone, they need their spirits replenished too. This is our hope to feed body and spirit with our continuing service.

Our guests are free spirits and do not like large groups or organizations with rules. For 23 years we served our meals monthly at the Denver Rescue Mission. Two years ago we decided to serve our guests directly; serving them one on one in the alley behind the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church near Auraria campus in downtown Denver.

Now we serve our guests outside in the elements, no matter the weather conditions directly at more of a street level. St. Elizabeth’s serves meals every day of the week and does not require guests to attend their services to receive a meal. St. Elizabeth’s respects all religions and the backgrounds of all of the people in this community giving them food and clothing daily. I very much respect the direction and philosophy of St. Elizabeth of Hungary’s service to the Denver community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I first came to the United States over 40 years ago, I came with very little money. Not being used to American ways, a Japanese American person swindled me out of the little I had soon after I arrived. These were very hard times for me and I too ate grasses I collected along the river banks and even slept under bridges for a short time. My experience in the United States therefore includes being homeless for a time. Serving those in need once a month is my reminder of the days when I too was part of this community.

The day before our meal service every month, Nippon Kan students spend a little time after class peeling potatoes, carrots and onions and chopping them for the next day’s meal. On the day of the service I begin cooking at 5 am. Now that I am getting older, it is harder for me to move the really huge pots by myself so one of our young Domo Restaurant chefs arrives early to help me.  Domo Restaurant has many official status refugees from Myanmar as members of our staff. They have told me, “Only a few years ago, we too lined up for meals in the camps”.  Now, with a smile and a true appreciation for their new life in the USA they join voluntarily in helping to prepare and serve this monthly meal. Our Domo staff also includes members of second generation of Mong refugees from Vietnam whose parents were relocated to this country decades ago. These second generation young people also enthusiastically join in this project to help with the service every month. It is also part of our Nippon Kan tradition to include any visitors to Nippon Kan to join us in the service and we have had visitors from many different countries help us from time to time.

 

 

 

 

 

AHAN meal services for the Badjao tribes and children’s support facilities in Mindanao Philippines

Our Nippon Kan Meal Service experience has inspired others to begin their own service projects in their own communities which has made me very happy. One bowl of food does not only fill a stomach but can fill countless hearts with joy and the spirit of hope. Feed the body, Feed the spirit.

Thank you to everyone for your support.

Report by
Gaku Homma
Nippon Kan Kancho