Food is fundamental, but its significance extends far beyond mere sustenance. It’s a powerful connector, deeply intertwined with our health, social bonds, spirituality, appreciation for beauty, and cultural identities. Understanding these multifaceted meanings of food is crucial, especially when addressing food security within communities facing significant health challenges. One organization that beautifully exemplifies this holistic approach is Tulsa CARES, a social service agency in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Through innovative programs like their Tulsa Cares Program, particularly the Second Cup Lunch, they provide compassionate care and support to low-income individuals living with HIV, AIDS, and/or Hepatitis C, recognizing and nurturing the diverse meanings food holds in their lives.
Understanding the Meaning of Food in Life: Beyond Just Calories
Often, food is narrowly perceived as just fuel, calories, or a means of survival. However, at Leah’s Pantry, and increasingly in broader community nutrition discussions, a more expansive view is embraced. This view acknowledges that food carries a wealth of meanings across different aspects of our lives. To better understand these varied meanings, Leah’s Pantry utilizes “The Meaning of Food in Life” questionnaire, adapted from research at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. This questionnaire explores five key domains through 22 questions, ranked on a scale of agreement:
- Moral Domain: This area reflects the ethical considerations connected to food choices, examining the impact on the environment and the origins of what we eat. Questions in this domain delve into concerns about the world and the sourcing of food.
- Social Domain: This domain highlights food’s role in fostering connections and strengthening social bonds. It explores how sharing and preparing food for others enhances relationships and expresses care.
- Sacred Domain: This area considers the spiritual dimension of food, investigating how food choices align with and reflect personal spiritual beliefs. It examines the concept of food as a connection to the sacred and the notion of certain foods holding more spiritual value.
- Aesthetic Domain: This domain focuses on the appreciation of food’s beauty and visual appeal. It looks at food as a form of art and the ability to perceive beauty in a dish, even if it’s not to one’s personal taste.
- Health Domain: A particularly relevant domain for health educators, this area emphasizes the link between food and personal health and well-being. It investigates the satisfaction derived from eating healthily and the expression of self-care through food choices.
Recognizing these domains provides a framework for understanding why food is so much more than just sustenance. It highlights the deep personal and communal connections we have with food and underscores the challenges that arise when access to food that aligns with these meanings is compromised.
Tulsa CARES’ Second Cup Lunch: A Holistic Approach to Community Nourishment
Tulsa CARES stands out as an organization that deeply understands and effectively addresses these diverse meanings of food through their innovative programs. A prime example is their Second Cup Lunch, a bi-weekly program held every Tuesday. This initiative is thoughtfully designed to support the various dimensions of food in the lives of their clients, who are navigating the complexities of living with HIV, AIDS, or Hepatitis C while often facing economic hardship.
Casey Bakhsh, Chief Programs Officer at Tulsa CARES, in a deeply insightful interview, describes the Second Cup Lunch as more than just a meal; it’s an embodiment of community, relationship building, safety, inclusion, and hope. From an administrative perspective, Casey emphasizes the program as “a labor of love” requiring a “village” of dedicated individuals to ensure every client has a meaningful experience and feels valued.
Creating a Welcoming and Dignified Space
The environment of the Second Cup Lunch is intentionally designed to be welcoming and uplifting. Tulsa CARES converted a former church into their community hub, ensuring ample natural light and a restaurant-grade kitchen. The dining hall, where the lunch takes place, comfortably seats 60 people with a variety of table arrangements – round and long – fostering both intimate conversations and larger group interactions. The space is described as light, airy, and comfortable, decorated in a way that promotes a sense of ease and belonging. Small, thoughtful touches like table décor and conversation starter cards further enhance the welcoming atmosphere.
Located just off the lobby, the dining hall is easily accessible and sometimes features community partners in the lobby, bringing services directly to the clients. Universal restrooms nearby reinforce the inclusive and respectful environment where everyone is welcome and accepted for who they are, without judgment or pressure to conform.
Building Community Through Shared Meals
The experience of attending Second Cup Lunch is carefully curated to foster community and break down social isolation, a significant challenge for individuals facing stigma and chronic health conditions. Upon entering the dining space, clients are greeted with the day’s menu and a simple sign-in process. The serving setup resembles a deli-style hot and cold bar, where fresh, appealing food is served with a smile.
What truly sets Second Cup Lunch apart is the intentional blurring of lines between staff and clients. Everyone, from the CEO to case managers and volunteers, participates in the lunch, eating alongside the clients. This deliberate act dismantles hierarchies and creates an environment of equality and shared humanity. Conversations flow freely, ranging from lighthearted topics like pet care to deeper personal stories, fostering genuine connections and mutual understanding. This community-centric approach ensures that clients feel seen, heard, and valued, breaking down barriers often encountered in traditional social service settings.
Sourcing and Preparing Nutritious and Meaningful Food
The food served at Second Cup Lunch is not an afterthought; it’s a carefully considered element of the program’s holistic approach. Menu planning is a collaborative effort involving the nutrition program team, including a program coordinator, registered dietitian, and a dedicated cook, Deborah, who brings over 30 years of culinary passion to the table. Client feedback is integral to menu development, ensuring that the meals resonate with their preferences and cultural backgrounds.
Tulsa CARES prioritizes food sourcing that aligns with their values of community and sustainability. They actively seek to purchase locally, supporting smaller grocery stores and utilizing produce from farmers markets to reduce waste and promote local agriculture. Leftover produce from farmers markets and items from their on-site food pantry “market” are incorporated into the meals, creating a tangible link between the lunch program and other services available to clients. The on-site market itself offers a variety of healthy food options, empowering clients to choose items that support their dietary needs and preferences.
Recognizing the specific health needs of their client base, Tulsa CARES ensures the meals are not only delicious but also nutritionally supportive. They consider potential food-drug interactions and prioritize providing nutrient-dense options to bolster the immune systems of individuals managing HIV, AIDS, or Hepatitis C. The program also serves as a practical nutrition education platform. By using pantry items in the Second Cup Lunch recipes, they introduce clients to new foods and demonstrate how to prepare them, further empowering them to make healthy choices at home. Recipe cards featuring dishes from the lunch are highly sought after, extending the program’s impact beyond Tuesdays.
Addressing the Domains of Meaningful Food at Tulsa CARES
The Tulsa CARES program, and Second Cup Lunch in particular, beautifully embodies the five domains of the “Meaning of Food in Life” questionnaire:
- Moral: The program emphasizes ethical food choices by prioritizing local sourcing, reducing food waste, and supporting sustainable practices. This reflects a deep care for the environment and the broader food system.
- Social: The core of Second Cup Lunch is social connection. The program intentionally cultivates community, breaks down isolation, and provides a space for clients and staff to connect on a human level, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support.
- Sacred: While not explicitly religious, the program cultivates a sense of sacredness through community and radical acceptance. The respect, dignity, and unconditional welcome offered to every individual creates a space where human connection becomes something truly special and valued.
- Aesthetic: Attention to detail is evident in the beautiful dining space and the visually appealing food presentation. By emphasizing color and thoughtful plating, Tulsa CARES acknowledges the aesthetic dimension of food and its ability to enhance the dining experience and uplift spirits.
- Health: Nutritional considerations are paramount. The program provides healthy, balanced meals tailored to the specific needs of individuals managing chronic health conditions. The on-site food pantry and recipe sharing further support clients’ health and well-being beyond the lunch program.
Impact and Success of Second Cup Lunch: More Than Just a Meal
The enduring success of the Second Cup Lunch program is evident in its longevity and the enthusiastic participation of clients and staff. Clients return week after week, and even bring friends and family, a testament to the safe, welcoming, and genuinely caring environment Tulsa CARES has created. The program fosters deep relationships, breaking down the traditional client-provider dynamic and building a true community of support.
Client feedback is actively solicited and genuinely acted upon, demonstrating that their voices are heard and valued. This commitment to client-centered care is exemplified by simple yet impactful actions, like stocking Mrs. Dash in the pantry upon client request. This responsiveness builds trust and reinforces the message that Tulsa CARES is truly there to serve and support their community.
Even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tulsa CARES adapted to ensure continued food access and community connection. While in-person lunches were temporarily paused, they implemented drive-through food programs, grocery deliveries, and virtual social groups, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to their clients’ well-being. As they cautiously reintroduced Second Cup Lunch, they continued to prioritize safety and adapt to evolving public health concerns, while maintaining the core values of community and care.
Conclusion: A Model for Compassionate and Holistic Care
The Tulsa CARES program, particularly the Second Cup Lunch, serves as a powerful model for organizations seeking to address food security and community nutrition in a holistic and compassionate manner. By recognizing and nurturing the diverse meanings of food – moral, social, sacred, aesthetic, and health – they have created a program that truly nourishes both body and soul. It’s a testament to the power of food to build community, foster dignity, and empower individuals facing significant life challenges. Tulsa CARES demonstrates that when food is approached with intention and care, it can be a vehicle for profound positive change, creating spaces where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and supported on their journey to health and well-being.
To learn more about Tulsa CARES and their impactful work, visit tulsacares.org and follow them on social media @TulsaCARES.
