A meal ensures nourishment and a sense of community. During the Thanksgiving season, a hot, traditional Thanksgiving meal hand-prepared by Mission chefs helps our guests and program participants know they are not forgotten.

Since childhood, every person creates memories surrounding food, from cooking in the kitchen with loved ones to enjoying traditional meals during the holidays. For generations, meals have meant so much more than physical nourishment—they have brought people and cultures together.

Ryan Peterson, Denver food services manager at The Crossing, has always known the importance of a meal at Denver Rescue Mission. Thus, he felt inspired to bridge the physical importance of a meal and the emotional connection of a meal with the creation of “A Meal of Meaning.”

“Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

-Matthew 19:16

“A Meal of Meaning” is an opportunity for a New Life Program participant whose work readiness portion of the program is in the kitchen at The Crossing. Once a month, Ryan and the other chefs select someone who has consistently had a good attitude and work ethic, to then prepare a meal that means something to them.

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Meals Served Last Year

Q & A With Chef Ryan

Why do you think it’s important to share meals with others?

“It’s in the Bible. When you feed somebody, there is a deeper connection. People communicate better when there’s food involved. People are more susceptible to being nicer. I just feel like food can bring people together.”

What inspired you to start “A Meal of Meaning”?

“Most of the guys, when we are cooking meals, start reminiscing about when they were at a better point in their life. And so, I wanted to give them the memory of when they were younger, put them in a happy place to remember better times and show them that somebody still cares.”

What has the reaction been from the men who have been selected?

“They are so appreciative. They’re like, ‘Me?! You want me to?’ They give me a hug or give me a handshake, and they just say, ‘Thank you, chef.’ They always get nervous, but we reassure them, ‘Everything’s gonna be all right. We’re here to help you.’ They’re very proud of receiving their bio that I put in a frame for them, and I give them a certificate with their name on it. It just shows them that they’re appreciated, and I recognize their hard work.”

How have you seen the guys grow or benefit from getting to share their meal?

“The majority of the time they’re about to phase out of the kitchen and are looking for a job. A lot of them apply for jobs and they get discouraged. I’m just like, ‘Man, you can do it. Remember how scared you were with ‘A Meal of Meaning’? But you didn’t give up. You kept going, and everything turned out.’ A lot of these guys are used to people calling them failures, or they can’t kick an addiction, or they’re not worthy of being in society. That breaks them down. Once I show them that, ‘Hey, you can still do it,’ it gives them self-confidence. Most of the time, it makes the guys reflect on where they’re at in their life and making somebody in their life proud of them. I’ve seen nothing but positivity come from it.”

What does it mean to you to prepare a Thanksgiving meal for those in our programs?

“It’s my way of showing my thanks back to everybody. It means a lot because I cook from my heart. Everything I prepare I want to make sure it’s the best that I can possibly provide. Just to see everybody happy, thankful, full, and coming back for seconds, thirds, fourths, and fifths—it just makes me feel like I’ve done my job.”

What is your Thanksgiving “Meal of Meaning”?

My grandfather Marvin’s stuffing. He and my grandmother owned a restaurant, and he was a chef in his younger years. He never taught me the recipe, but I remember just sitting at the kitchen counter and watching him make his stuffing. I remember all from my memory on how to make it. My grandfather passed away about two years ago, so I just keep him alive in my heart by still being able to share a part of him with everybody, even though he’s not here. All he wanted me to do was to be successful and be the best person I could be in the kitchen. And before he passed, he told me he was happy and proud of me.”

New Life Program Participants Share a Recipe in the Kitchen

Jerry’s Cinnamon Rolls

” . . . a meaningful and treasured part of my life, filled with warmth, love and the joy of family.”

“Before my mother passed away, I was 12 years old. I had a cherished family tradition of gathering in the kitchen with my younger sister, Tracy. Cooking together was a way for us to bond and create lasting memories.

Our culinary journey began with making meatballs from scratch and preparing homemade linguine and a big pot of spaghetti sauce. As the sauce cooked, my family and I would chat and laugh, sharing stories and enjoying each other’s company.

We would make homemade dough for cinnamon rolls, spreading a generous amount of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon across the surface. As the cinnamon rolls baked, the kitchen would be filled with a delicious, sweet scent that was simply irresistible. I loved to watch them bake, anticipating the moment when they would be golden brown and ready to enjoy. This shared experience in the kitchen was a meaningful and treasured part of my life, filled with warmth, love and the joy of family.”

Lloyd’s Enchiladas

” . . . represents family, tradition and love.”

“This is my grandma’s recipe. One of my most cherished memories is the aroma that would fill the house as the enchiladas baked in the oven. It was a scent that promised warmth, comfort and a full stomach. My siblings and I would gather around the kitchen, eagerly waiting for the timer to go off so we could dive into the delicious meal.

We would laugh and chat, sharing stories about our day while savoring every bite. This dish is more than just food to me; it represents family, tradition and love. It reminds me of the importance of preserving our heritage and passing down traditions to future generations.”

Omar’s Fried Chicken

” . . . brought my whole family together.”

“Red beans and rice, fried chicken and cornbread hold a special meaning. They remind me of my family and my hometown of Biloxi, Mississippi, particularly my grandmother. There’s something about this that brought my whole family together.

The red beans are made with smoked turkey and the fried chicken is finger-licking good! We are all a ‘family’ here in the New Life Program and I loved sharing this meal with my ‘family.’”

Happy Thanksgiving A Year Later

You met Ralph and Lisa’s family in last November’s newsletter:

READ THEIR STORY

This Thanksgiving, they get to celebrate together in their new home. Here are a few things they’re thankful for:

The Crossing

“If The Crossing didn’t help us, I know we wouldn’t be here right now.”
-Brehanna

Home

“Just knowing we have our own place— it’s helped me sleep at night.”
-Ralph

Family

“I’m happy all my kids decided to come back with us. When they were younger, I put them through a lot. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making it up to them.”
-Ralph

Food

“Everybody likes the fact that they can go into the kitchen, open up the fridge and if they want pop or milk or ramen noodles or whatever, it’s there.”
-Lisa