Cor Unum

My empty promises of finding time to volunteer and give back came to a head last spring. In a most beautiful act of remembrance, my college roommates and I were asked to perform philanthropic offerings to honor the life of a young man with a perfect heart who spent his days helping underprivileged children. This proposition prompted my saint-like mother and I to sign on to serve dinner at a very different type of soup kitchen.
    Upon entering Cor Unum we noticed many aspects that were a stark contrast to what one visualizes when the phrase "soup kitchen" is mentioned.

At Cor Unum, human integrity is given a seat at the head of each table. The doors open each morning at 6:00 to serve breakfast to lonely men, hungry children, hopeless parents, and friends who have fallen on hard times. The method is simple and works seamlessly each day. Twice a day, meals are cooked and served by volunteer waiters and waitresses to tables dressed with fresh flowers, rolls, ice water, linens and dinnerware. Each customer is given an appetizer to start, then a homemade main course, and finally their choice from an array of delicious desserts.
    After one night of serving, we were hooked. My mother and I left in a cloud of excitement and promises of weekly visits. We began having such incredible experiences on our "Team Tuesday" serving nights that we encouraged friends to join us. One such week, Anthony agreed to help out. He proved to be more than just a charming waiter that night and was asked by Peggy if he would like to sign up to cook one meal a month. Anthony agreed, though I was certain he didn't understand the magnitude of the commitment he had just made.

Perfecting salmon for two is nothing like baking meatloaf for three hundred...at least in my eyes. To Anthony, all things "kitchen" are easy. He imagines, prepares and presents proportions of fabulous foods without breaking a sweat on the first Saturday of each month (with me serving as the humble sous chef). These days in the kitchen are our favorite each month and are continually filled with laughter, growth, an increasing number of friends and a reminder of just why we love each other so much.
    Cor Unum has agreed to let us work in conjunction with them to develop programming for adolescents in need who are serviced by the coup kitchen or who we are lucky enough to come across through other avenues. Through this incredible center, we feel we will be able to reach and connect with individuals who are missing something: love, support, shelter, confidence, hope, self...

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