By Steph L.
I’ve had a lot of great experiences at Simpson, but there is one that really stood out to me from this Fall and I am honored that I get to share it here.
We were doing a lunch service at Simpson in November and we made a huge batch of chili. It happened to be one of the first really cold days and the chili seemed to be the perfect warm fit.
I remember checking the freezer to see if there were ice cubes (because I know the guests love when we put ice out – such a small, easy thing to do, but they must not get it a lot). We had this guy come through – he was SO KIND and positive. I was at the drink station and he came over and I asked him if he wanted ice… he said “just when I thought this meal couldn’t get any better! We are having this awesome feast and now we get ice”.
The guests are always nice but this guy was particularly contagious. I overheard him talking to someone else when he sat down about “what a great day this was.”
When it came time to grab a plate for myself and sit with the guests, I knew I wanted to sit with him. I was just excited to get to know him a bit more.
Within a couple of minutes I just told him I thought he seemed really happy and that’s why I wanted to sit with him. That’s when he started crying and said “in 30 minutes I am getting the keys to my new apartment”. I then started crying and told him I was so happy for him. He told me it had taken a few months, but the social worker totally helped him navigate getting his credit back on track. His first apartment application was denied because he had an outstanding collection and she helped him navigate it. It was an outstanding medical bill and she did some research and found a state program that helped cover the collection. She just didn’t give up on him (his words… not mine). Eventually they found an apartment after he saved for a couple of months and could cover the deposit. He was SO proud and felt so supported by her. There was another guest at the table that was listening and you could just tell she started to feel hopeful about her own situation.
I didn’t learn his name, and I didn’t get to say goodbye, but I have thought about both him a lot since then.
You all should be SO PROUD of the work Simpson is doing with this space and community. It’s really inspiring. When I went to the information session/first look at the new building I was in awe. You have been so intentional with your guest-first approach and it makes me so proud to have a relationship with you all.
Click to learn more or sign up to serve meals in the Cook & Connect program here.
Contact Aaron via email with questions.