The Episcopal Community Services have come up with a new philosophy on dealing with their food kitchen in Kansas City. They have begun to implement an idea they call “dining with dignity.” Anyone can come off the street and into their Kansas City Community Kitchen and have a meal. But unlike standard soup kitchens, this is not a buffet line where you come in, get a bowl and stand in line. This kitchen is run like a restaurant. A hostess greets you and volunteers from the community take your food order. As Brian Oglesby told the Kansas City Star:
“It’s different,” he said later. “They’re treating me good, like they don’t know I’m homeless.”
That’s the point. This kitchen had a ribbon-cutting Friday to celebrate its new “dining with dignity” format. The idea is to treat clients with the respect due a paying customer, and to serve up better, healthier foods. Volunteers serve as waiters and waitresses.
Beau Hayen is the president/CEO of the Episcopal Community Services. He wants this community outreach to be not only about feeding those in need but a way to truly help foster meaningful community ties.
“Food is a basic human right,” Heyen said. “This is about community. We want police officers and firefighters to come in and eat with our clients. I worked in soup kitchens in New York where there’s 8 million people. Here, a place like this can make a difference.”
And the healthier menu means less sodium, which reduces risk of diabetes and hypertension so clients aren’t going to the hospital without insurance, Heyen said.
Upholding someone else’s dignity is a good shortcut to developing your own.
Watch Beau Heyen talk about the new dining facility and the philosophy behind it, below the fold.
