I hope you enjoy some of my musings about community meals, warm and welcoming environments and social justice. Here are some questions to think about:

How do you feel about community meals? Do you spend time at some as a volunteer? As a participant? How do you make sure everyone is welcome or have you spent time thinking about it? Let’s keep talking!

This is a cross posting with a few minor adjustments from PlantedNetwork (facebook)

Planted Network is a community organization “a local food network which — through the power of collaboration and resources — supports charities providing equitable and sustainable food security options.” (About page)

Recently, I had the privilege of spending time at a community meal.

I say spending time on purpose. This was not volunteering at a soup kitchen, nor an “I’m feeling good – good deed”. This was sitting down to enjoy a good lunch with people I just met, people who live in different circumstances than my own. I love meeting people, whether I’m on a plane and talking to a businessperson or at a community food program.

Visiting this program was more benefit to me than the people I assumed I would be helping. This dawned on me as I thought about the power difference between charity recipients and volunteers. I tried to think about my involvement as “spending time,” hoping to equalize power. Words are important.

Not all community meals are charitable. Many free meals are no longer considered ‘charity meals’. Food security advocates are working to equalize the power difference between guests and volunteers. Some inspiring examples include Christmas at the Creamery in Nova Scotia(facebook page) and Community Food Centres.

How do we acknowledge and equalize power difference at community events? What can we do to share power no matter what gender, race, education, language, religion, family, age, social class, or geographic region? How do we make guests at a community meal feel the same when people eat at a restaurant?

Restaurants operate by a golden rule: the consumer is always right. A server’s job is not JUST to feed people. It is about the experience the guests have. As a previous server myself, I have not done my job unless guests feel appreciated. The food should be steaming hot and tasty. If not, I should report back to the kitchen manager. I ask about guests lives and I found out how their day is going. I learn something from everyone.

No matter what meal you serve – community lunch, dinner party, snack at a senior homes – every person should walk away feeling acknowledged. The ability to choose what is on our own plate is important. When serving food, it is respectful to not make assumptions, smile, and ask people IF they want something, how much, and if they want more (within the food budget). Share power with guests as much as possible.

The community meal I visited is working hard to equalize the power between guests and volunteers. One volunteer told me he had been going for 14 years, and then he talked about how he got to catch up with a friend he had not seen for a month. Guests joined in and helped out as if they were at home. Everyone I met loved what they were doing, cared about the food, and knew the people they were eating with.

As I was thinking these things, I thought about how serving potatoes that morning was the most important thing I could be doing. I asked guests how their day was, and commiserated about how wet it was outside. I was guest to their regular day – this was my first time at THEIR community meal and I was accepted with graciousness despite my nervousness.

With all of these musings… I have a challenge for all of us (especially me). A charity community meal setting should be no different than being in restaurant or café as much as possible.

Today, I had the privilege of spending time at a community meal.