Cultivating Community Newsletter- 'In From the Cold'
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Amanda Shankland
Feb 2, 2024, 11:32:53 AM2/2/24
to Cultivating Community
'In From the Cold'
In the classic movie, Midnight Cowboy, a young Texas cowboy named Joe Buck moves to New York City with the dream of becoming a high-paid male escort. Joe, played by the actor John Voight is robbed by a sickly conman named Enrico ‘Ratzo’ Rizzo, played by Dustin Hoffman. The two form an unlikely friendship as they try to survive on the mean streets of 1960s New York City. They seek shelter in an abandoned building in the cold winter as Ratzo’s condition worsens from what is implied to be a severe case of tuberculosis. Ratzo dreams of a better life in Florida, lamenting that “…the two basic items necessary to sustain life are sunshine and coconut milk.” He also tells Joe that since there are many Jewish people in Miami, he will be able to restore his birth name, Isadore Rosenthal. On a bus to Florida, when the two finally get the money to buy tickets, Ratzo tells Joe that when they get to Florida, he will only be known as Rizzo. The name change is a powerful symbol of his desire to restore his dignity and self-worth.
This movie remains my favourite of all time; the vulnerability portrayed by these characters reveals the desire of all people for dignity, respect, and an acknowledgment of basic humanity.
While Midnight Cowboy is just a movie, it portrays a version of a reality that is all too familiar for millions of people. In my community of Ottawa, it is difficult to comprehend how some people live without homes through the cold winters, with temperatures sometimes dipping below -30 at night. It is impossible to talk about community without including those most vulnerable, those who are often overlooked by the rest of society and left out in the cold. This reality is what inspired Reverend Dr. Anthony Bailey to start the ‘In from the Cold’ program at the Parkdale United Church. I tagged along with my neighbour Mark, who regularly volunteers to help with the weekly food service to some one hundred and fifty guests.
The day begins with tea, coffee, juice and snacks, accompanied by live music from some of our talented local musicians. There are books and magazines for guests to enjoy and a crafting table. The highlight of the events, though, is a four-course meal served to the guests at their tables. On this day, the talented chef Ian Harrington, starts the meal with a salad and soup: spinach salad and tomato bisque with garlic and herbs. The entre includes braised chicken thighs, swiss chard, mashed potatoes, and roasted mushrooms topped with a pine nut pistou. The meal is complete with cake and coffee.
Reverend Bailey tells me that “Guests are not just hungry for food but for dignity and human touch." This is what drove the reverend to start the program in 2002, and with only thirty-five guests that year, it has grown steadily over the years. In the warmth of the dining hall in the church basement, countless stories are shared over warm meals. This safe environment provides a sense of dignity to the hundreds of guests who pass through the doors.
As I served coffee and tea in the dining hall, one of the guests, an older man with a large toothless smile, ushered me over for a quick word. He tells me a phrase that captures the spirit of the moment and the experience of being part of this community, “People don’t care how much you know; they want to know how much you care.” Among the volunteers of all ages greeting guests, the eager sous chefs in the kitchen, the student volunteers who come to serve the food, and the warm smiles of the guests, I am reminded that community is built on one simple premise: to care for one another.
On Saturday afternoon, Reverend Bailey stands at the entrance and greets every guest and volunteer by name, with a handshake and a smile that gives dignity and respect to everyone who comes through the door. On a cold day in January, a warm community flourishes within the walls of Parkdale United Church, proving that, indeed, the most enduring stories are not confined to the silver screen but are written in the everyday acts of kindness and compassion that define our shared humanity.
Parkdale United Church, “In from the Cold”
https://parkdaleunitedchurch.ca/in-from-the-cold/
The day begins with tea, coffee, juice and snacks, accompanied by live music from some of our talented local musicians. There are books and magazines for guests to enjoy and a crafting table. The highlight of the events, though, is a four-course meal served to the guests at their tables. On this day, the talented chef Ian Harrington, starts the meal with a salad and soup: spinach salad and tomato bisque with garlic and herbs. The entre includes braised chicken thighs, swiss chard, mashed potatoes, and roasted mushrooms topped with a pine nut pistou. The meal is complete with cake and coffee.
Reverend Bailey tells me that “Guests are not just hungry for food but for dignity and human touch." This is what drove the reverend to start the program in 2002, and with only thirty-five guests that year, it has grown steadily over the years. In the warmth of the dining hall in the church basement, countless stories are shared over warm meals. This safe environment provides a sense of dignity to the hundreds of guests who pass through the doors.
As I served coffee and tea in the dining hall, one of the guests, an older man with a large toothless smile, ushered me over for a quick word. He tells me a phrase that captures the spirit of the moment and the experience of being part of this community, “People don’t care how much you know; they want to know how much you care.” Among the volunteers of all ages greeting guests, the eager sous chefs in the kitchen, the student volunteers who come to serve the food, and the warm smiles of the guests, I am reminded that community is built on one simple premise: to care for one another.
On Saturday afternoon, Reverend Bailey stands at the entrance and greets every guest and volunteer by name, with a handshake and a smile that gives dignity and respect to everyone who comes through the door. On a cold day in January, a warm community flourishes within the walls of Parkdale United Church, proving that, indeed, the most enduring stories are not confined to the silver screen but are written in the everyday acts of kindness and compassion that define our shared humanity.
Parkdale United Church, “In from the Cold”
https://parkdaleunitedchurch.ca/in-from-the-cold/
About me:
The Cultivating Community newsletter provides commentary on how community-centred thinking and action drive sustainable environmental and food movements forward. I am a writer, consultant, and educator specializing in environmental water policy, sustainable agriculture, and food systems. I hold a Doctor of Philosophy from Carleton University and am an adjunct professor at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. I live and work on the unceded territory of the Algonquin-Anishinaabe. I am committed to efforts towards decolonizing our food system and the affirmation of traditional knowledge of foodways. I seek to advance a notion of community that includes all plants, insects, animals, and people.
As a freelance consultant and editor, I offer guidance on agricultural and environmental priorities. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to retain my services. I hope you enjoy this short article. You can subscribe to my newsletter on Linkedin here.
Amanda Shankland Ph.D.
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