Agape Table offers a second helping for those in need

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This article was published 11/10/2021 (1834 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A second Thanksgiving lunch under COVID-19 restrictions went off without a hitch at Agape Table Monday, even as the number of visitors doubled previous years.

The pandemic has taken away a communal holiday dinner typically held by the Furby Street non-profit but the weather is warm enough for folks to sit outside early Monday afternoon.

Nearby, a socially-distanced lineup forms and some take to the sidewalk to partake in the lunch provided – a Styrofoam container with all the Thanksgiving staples: turkey, stuffing, gravy, vegetables, dessert – along with water and nutritional bars.

Agape Table has been doing Thanksgiving meals, along with Easter and Christmas, since its inception in 1980.

This year, they held two Thanksgivings – one on Thursday, and another on Monday – and both served around 500-600 people each. Pre-COVID, an average day would bring, at most, just over 300 guests, executive director Jim Steep said Monday.

“Just more people in need – the phone’s always ringing, people need extra help … I think since COVID, it seems like there’s more people in need of food,” he said.

Agape Table has expanded its hours to keep up with the increased need.

Steep, who joined Agape Table six years ago as a volunteer and has spent two years as executive director, said the logistics of working around COVID-19 restrictions to keep meals coming (Agape Table hands out breakfasts every weekday and hosts a food bank twice a week) have been costly.

“Interestingly enough, Agape has held its own during this period,” he said. “People are so wonderful, and they love Agape Table, and our donors have really stepped up and got us through.”

Some Agape Table volunteers are years-long veterans of the organization, but others are brand new. Precious Malimbiza first volunteered at Agape Table a month ago as part of a school program, and enjoyed it so much she began coming back on her own. On Monday, she brought her friend, Kudzai Mukudzavu.

Both were put on vegetable-chopping duty for the day, and both said working with the other volunteers at Agape Table was an enriching experience.

“I feel like the atmosphere is very friendly when I’m here, my mind is free, I come in here and everyone’s nice,” Malimbiza said. “And just helping is fulfilling, it’s amazing to see people how they appreciate, or just see how people help here. It moves the soul, to be honest. So you just want to keep coming back and keep helping the community.”

“It’s something I see myself doing every week,” Mukudzavu said.

Jamye Morningstar considers herself an Agape Table regular – she lives in an apartment walking distance from the building but is part of Agape Table’s sizeable clientele that are housed but still use its resources to support themselves.

“I think it’s awesome, to be honest,” she said. “I get hungry in the morning, and it’s just down the street from me, and I can come pick up food.”

After grabbing her meal, she takes to a sidewalk ledge with two of her friends and eats. In the spirit of the holiday, they share their meal, handing each other bites of their meals.

Part of the joy of the space is the communal aspect, even after COVID-19 has kept people out of the indoor seating area.

“This is where you get your food, right,” she said. “This is where people come chill, to get your stomach full in the morning, or where they meet up for a bit at least.”

After finishing her meal, she throws out her garbage and walks up to another person using the service. They ask the Agape Table volunteers for more water, before preparing to leave.

“If I just met somebody, I would tell them to come here, especially if they’re living on the streets,” she said. “This is where you can come.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_