This really inspires me. I’m not going to even try and be funny about it, that’s how glowy my insides are right now.
One of the upsides of the whole recession is that it’s shaking people up and that gives us a chance to change for the better. When our lives get turned upside down, or when we don’t have enough cash to entertain ourselves, we’re all forced to think a little bit more. About ourselves and our place in the world. We should always be on the lookout to do some good, and obviously donating cash to our favourite organizations is amazing. But during the economic pinch, we’re moved to think beyond just handing over cash. What other things can we do - more face to face, tangible, emotional things - to help people who are in worse shape than us? Because no matter how badly things might suck for you, don’t forget that it’s always sucking worse for someone else.
In the New York Daily News, I found an article by Rich Shapiro about fourth-generation New York butcher Jeffrey Ruhalter. During the first recession, Ruhalter’s grandfather would send 20 pounds of ground beef each day to a tent city in New York, to help feed the hungry. “They would mix it with sawdust to feed more people,” Ruhalter said.
Carrying on the kindness of his grandfather, and moved to action by the struggles he’d witnessed in his own shop - like a customer who broke into tears after her credit card was declined for a $7 order of beef stew - Ruhalter decided to make a difference with what he knows best: food.
Reaching out to his suppliers for donations, Ruhalter created “Jeffrey’s Recession Dinner.” His plan was to design a scrumptuous, multi-course meal and offer it to recession-weary couples for only $10 each. Following his announcement, the New York Daily News picked up what he was doing. After their article the news snowballed, picking up coverage on a variety of blogs and a spot on the local NBC news. Following all that media buzz, people called Ruhalter to donate money to the dinner and in the end he was able to offer it totally for free.
Jeffrey Ruhalter at work in his shop.
On March 31 and April 1, 115 couple who are unemployed or threatened with losing their homes were treated to the gourmet dinner. Mr. Ruhalter set them up right, providing strip steaks from his own shop, in addition to fresh vegetables, home-made cheeses, high-end cupcakes, and other goodies donated to make the dinner special. “For people who are suffering right now, a nice dinner in a beautiful restaurant - that can really put a smile on your face,” he said.
Following the success of the first dinner, word has spread and next month Ruhalter plans to expand his Recession dinner to host 500 people at 7 different restaurant locations. “I know what I’m doing is not a lot, but I’m thinking if I do this, maybe somebody else will do this,” Ruhalter said. “These are really difficult times and people need a helping hand.”
What goes around comes around. If you’re in New York, you can show your support or donate to his next dinner at Jeffrey’s Meat Market, 120 Essex Street on the Lower East Side.
