By Kelly A. Shue
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
Mother Theresa once said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”
Thanks to inspiration from Community Resources Coordinator Nancy Welsh, Riderwood hopes to feed as many people as possible.
One person can make a difference
For years, Welsh made her own small food donations to the Elizabeth House, a nonprofit volunteer organization developed to help needy neighbors in Laurel, Md.
“I noticed the house several years ago and saw what looked like homeless people waiting outside in the evenings,” she says. “I called and asked if they took food or monetary donations. My contributions started at that point. I would cook a meal and take it there or help cook on-site. I also asked friends and relatives to help; they were happy to do so,” she says.
Over the past year, Welsh has witnessed the rising needs of homeless people in the Silver Spring and surrounding areas. She hoped that Riderwood would be willing to join a group of local businesses, churches, and other community organizations dedicated to feeding the needy.
“I decided to present the idea to Magdy Mishraky, Riderwood’s director of dining services,” says Welsh. “I knew that if he agreed, the homeless and needy would get so much more food. He was wonderful and agreed that extra food not served to diners––food that would otherwise be thrown away—from Riderwood’s Windsor Restaurant could be donated.”
According to Carlos Gauna, chef de cuisine at Riderwood, “The food donations are in the forms of soup, vegetables, entrées, and dessert. All of the food is appropriately packaged and stored in large aluminum cooking pans and placed in dining services freezers—to comply with FDA requirements—before being transported to the Elizabeth House.”