Today, I showed up a little late to One Church on Florence Road, where preparations were already underway for Sunday’s meal that will be shared with people facing homelessness. By the time I arrived, Steph was already busy peeling the cardamom, Sonam had taken charge of marinating the chicken, and Dan was keeping everything in order with cleaning and dishes.

Wanting to be useful, I joined in by helping to ground some seeds, taking photos to capture the wonderful spirit of the moment, and doing my part to keep the team motivated. Together, we worked for about 2–3 hours — chatting, exchanging stories, laughing, and soaking up the incredible knowledge and wisdom of Chef John, who guided us through the process with his experience and generosity.

By the end, we all felt lighter and better for having contributed, even in small ways, toward tomorrow’s meal. With smiles and gratitude, we said our goodbyes and headed off in different directions, carrying with us the warmth of community and service.