Grace Cathedral

Welcome, dear friends, to a special look at Dinner with Grace, one of our cherished ministries at Grace Cathedral. In 2023 alone, we served over 1,500 meals and engaged more than 50 volunteers who dedicated over 1,000 hours to offer freshly cooked lunches to our neighbors in single-room occupancy hotels. This effort impacts many lives and fosters a community of compassion and support. 

“The Faces Behind the Food”: Volunteers Finding Inspiration in the Kitchen

There’s something magical about cooking, isn’t there? The rhythm of chopping vegetables, the aroma of spices, and the joy of creating a meal from scratch. At Dinner with Grace, our multi-generational volunteers experience this magic twice a month. We gather in our bustling kitchen to prepare various dishes—from main courses to desserts—and then serve these hearty meals the following day. Cooking sessions usually involve ten volunteers, with another four serving the meals the next day at the Mentone and Crosby Hotels, which are managed by Episcopal Community Services. We use wholesome ingredients to create nutritious, cost-effective meals, such as a crowd-pleasing menu of turkey meatballs, Caesar salad, mashed potatoes, and chocolate brownies. 

After cooking, we sit down together to enjoy a communal meal and celebrate our shared efforts. We begin the meal with a prayer that reminds us of the power of inclusiveness:  

“Gracious God, in your loving heart there is room for everyone—without exception. Give us courage to be so at home in you that we dare make room for others. Let your world be a place of delight and homecoming for all creation.” 

“Overcoming Challenges with Grace”: Resourcefulness and Grit

Volunteering with Dinner with Grace transcends cooking. Our journey is routinely marked by challenges that enhance our achievements. For example, we once rendered fat from ten pounds of 73% lean ground beef for baked ziti—a task demanding patience and skill. Another time, we deboned eight large rotisserie chickens for our casseroles and diced ten pounds of strawberries for a beloved strawberry cheesecake, turning these tasks into a labor of love that culminated in mouthwatering dishes.

An unforgettable moment occurred at the Crosby Hotel when we arrived at a blaring fire alarm and evacuation. After a 15-minute wait on the sidewalk, our dedicated serving crew managed to deposit the food trays inside and set up an improvised serving line in a smaller kitchen. This experience showcased the adaptability and resourcefulness of our volunteers and demonstrated their commitment to serving.

“Nourishing Bodies and Souls”: Making a Difference and Building Community

The meals we prepare at Dinner with Grace do more than fill stomachs: they demonstrate our care and connection to our neighbors. A resident at the Mentone Hotel once expressed gratitude by saying, ‘Thank you for doing this. It’s been a tough week, and this meal means more than you can imagine.’ Such moments validate all our efforts. Beyond providing food, our Dinner with Grace ministry is about nurturing community, fostering empathy, and alleviating loneliness. 

Come Join Us!

I hope this article inspires you to join us and find out for yourself how by working together we can nourish bodies, uplift spirits, and strengthen our community. Learn more and sign up today!

With gratitude and grace,

Mikin Macwan