‘Community’ means you, too!
I don't need to tell anyone reading Tumbleweird that life in America is getting rapidly more difficult to parse. Growing up in the era of 9/11 and the war on Iraq, I was always anti-government. (Plus, there was some really good anti-Bush and anti-war music being released, which definitely helped light my fire!) Like so many of us, though, it was the COVID-19 pandemic which forced me to change my actions. Stuck inside for a year, listening to uncountable hours of podcasts, I learned the history of the world which I wasn’t taught in school. My biggest takeaway from this time was that our safety — and the safety of future generations — all comes down to building relationships within your local community by joining or creating support networks. So, that’s what I tried to do.
Four years ago, I started my non-profit, Black Apron, providing in-home culinary services to anyone who needs help making home-cooked meals. To expand my knowledge and spread the word to the public, I joined the WSU Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservers programs. I also volunteer at the farmers market, assisting with the SNAP match program. I have some chickens and we give the eggs away, and most recently I joined Real Action for Tri-Cities (RAFT).
Turns out it’s surprisingly difficult to get the word out to people that your programs exist, let alone have them feel safe enough to reach out for help, and I still didn’t feel like I was doing enough! So in March, I started a collaboration with Red Mountain Kitchen, and we now host a Community Meal on the last Wednesday of each month. I cook a full meal from scratch — including drinks and dessert — for free, and everyone is invited. (Yes, that means you, too!)
The first month, we had about 26 people (including my family and friends). By month two, the word was out and we were off to the races! Each month, more people have shown up, and we fed over 100 people in September. We hope that by Thanksgiving, enough people will be aware of the program that we can provide a ‘Friendsgiving’ for everyone who doesn’t have a place to go for the holiday. So far, it’s looking like it’ll be a good one.
Persuading you and yours to come enjoy a nice dinner isn’t the only reason I’m writing this (though do tell us if you read this; we love to hear where people learn about us!). The thing I most want people to understand is that it is still possible to help — to use your skills for community projects. I know the Tri-Cities can sometimes feel like a place where we are surrounded by ideological enemies — I see them every day, driving around with their flags and their banners, proudly supporting the looming Christofascist regime. But I promise you, there are good people here. So many of us want to be helpful, want to be useful and kind to each other, but just can’t figure out how.
When life feels like everything is getting worse — more expensive, more dangerous, more scary every day — that is the time to step up and make things better. Remember that you have the power to make change for all of us, no matter how small you feel. I have always cooked for my family, always been working class, always lived paycheck-to-paycheck, and when I cook now it’s for all of us — for the community, for people who really need the help. In that small way, I can help them sustain their energy and save their money, so that they, in turn, can use their talents to make things better for all of us.
If you want to help and don’t know where to start, an easy way to begin is by joining a group like RAFT. If you already know what you want to do, just get started with something small, help a couple of people, and don’t be shy to tell people about it! I love reading about other people's projects in Tumbleweird! It makes me feel less alone.
If you or anyone you know needs help with cooking, you can email me at blackapronwa@gmail.com or sign up on our website: www.blackapronwa.com.
If you’re free the last Wednesday of the month, come on down to Red Mountain Kitchen in Downtown Kennewick and have a meal with us. We start at 5:30pm and run until 8pm. We are also always looking for volunteers to help with the event each month, if you think you’re up for the chaos!
We look forward to sharing a table with you!