31 Oct 2024 Serving hope
By Chef Don Bingham
When I think of our magazine’s theme of “Small Towns, Big Hearts”, I’m reminded of CeCe Winans’ popular song, “Goodness of God”:
… ‘Cause all my life You have been faithful,
And all my life You have been so, so good;
With every breath that I am able,
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
How grateful we should all be for the heart of our towns and communities! Since it’s the season for giving thanks, I want to pull back the curtain on some of the generous hearts of Central Arkansans. I am eternally grateful for the myriad blessings spiritually, physically and materially they all offer.
It’s been my delight to observe in a closer way the local shelters and their multilevel offerings to those in need, and to see how the unsung heroes of our communities are consistently meeting the needs of these shelters. There are many shelters in the 501 providing services for both individuals and families who are struggling with issues like addiction and homelessness. Two examples of this type of giving and benevolence on the practical level are the Bethlehem House and the Conway Ministry Center. Both are one hundred percent nonprofit, serving three meals a day, seven days a week. The need is constant, but again and again these shelters step up to the challenge of service. These ministries are among the “best-kept secrets” in the 501, expressing the depth of the community’s love and care on a daily basis.
Bethlehem House offers residents three meals a day (currently these numbers range from the 20 to 30 who live there, to 40-60 from the community) on a daily basis. Bethlehem House Dining Services works on a budget of $35 a day, producing approximately 120 meals for residents and community.
Here’s the beauty of our community; donations from local restaurants flood in every day to help feed these dear people. Bethlehem House is a transitional home for those experiencing hardships. 89% of those who stay for 90 days move into permanent housing. Just to name a few donors, Whole Hog, Stoby’s, Hendrix College, Verona, Oriental Kitchen, Chick-fil-A and Tacos 4 Life are regulars. However, local residents will often call and ask for a grocery list for the day, or drop off produce from their gardens. Others volunteer by signing up to come to Bethlehem House to cook a meal for the residents, or having food delivered for their use.
Bethlehem House also offers full-service catering to help supplement the needs of this organization. One resident expressed “I have maintained sobriety, pursued a college degree and rebuilt my life.” Another resident explained, “I overcame addiction, rebuilt my life, and found a second family.” Thank you, 501, for your kindness.
While visiting Bethlehem House, I observed cases of food from local establishments; complete, fresh-cooked meals from donors; baked items; fruit; frozen foods and other practical donations being dropped off as staff and residents prepared proper storage. Did we mention the fact that classes on nutrition and food handling are offered on a regular basis?
When I visited the Conway Ministry Center, the full-time staff was busily preparing for the day and week’s needs, as clients were coming to visit the “grocery store” that presented them with a mini “Kroger” of staples and supplies, a sense of encouragement permeating the atmosphere. The Ministry’s mission is to build bridges between people experiencing the immediate effects of poverty and homelessness to the physical and spiritual resources available to alleviate suffering and facilitate long-term transformation. You can contact the Conway Ministry Center by calling 501.358.6098 or emailing [email protected].
The Conway Ministry Center is currently developing The Refuge, Conway’s innovative solution to emergency shelter. The Center also offers the Restore Program, which is one-on-one case management, rent and utility assistance, budget planning; Rapid Rehousing, which includes housing research, financial assistance and placement; and the Storehouse Pantry, a client-choice food and hygiene pantry. In addition, the ministry features The Hub, a drop-in case management opportunity for help in getting vital documents and working towards stability.
Both of these ministries have amazing goals for the future, and there’s no time for slowing down progress. The Conway Ministry Center is near completion of The Refuge, and donations are being accepted to bring to reality the recovered/repurposed motel, redesigned to meet the needs of unhoused individuals and families.
To sponsor one room in this facility is $17,000. To sponsor the fenced playground and garden area is $50,000. To cover furniture, appliances and housewares for one room is $3,000. The opportunities for support and giving are endless–and so is the need. Bethlehem House has scheduled a Gala on Feb. 6, 2025, at Central Baptist Church on Dave Ward. The proceeds from this event will benefit the ongoing support of the organization. The event is open to the public. Table sponsorship and ticket information can be found on the website at bethlehemhouse.net or on social media pages, or you may contact Aimee Prince at [email protected].
During my visit at Bethlehem House, I was able to spend time cooking with Jill McCollom, Director of Programs and Operations, who just also happens to be my daughter! One unexpected benefit of the wide variety of food donations she receives is that it has offered the opportunity to develop her ability to “recycle” unexpected or unusual items. The American Culinary Federation offers training for taking retrievable items from cooked/prepared items and giving them a new life and purpose in delicious meals. Jill uses this food prep measure on a regular basis, and together we have included three of her favorite recipes the residents enjoy. They are all prepared from donations from the 501 community and redesigned into fresh, tasty meals. We hope you will find them useful. Whether you are feeding a small group or a large one, these dishes are sure to leave each of your guests with a full stomach and a full heart.
Tamale Pie
2 small cans of beans, your choice (kidney, black, pinto)
1 pound ground beef
1 package taco seasoning
1 can Rotel
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3 cups prepared cornbread mixture. Prepare according to recipe or package.
Brown the ground beef, adding about 1 cup of water to the pan during the browning process. Drain browned beef and rinse off fat, then add taco seasoning and set aside. Mash beans in a bowl, then spread them out in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Mix Rotel with ground beef, then layer this on top of the beans. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of the ground beef and Rotel mixture. Make your cornbread batter according to your favorite recipe or the package directions on your favorite mix, then pour over the top of the cheese. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until the cornbread is golden brown.
“Clean Out The Fridge” Quiche
1 stick margarine, room temperature
3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup light cream
1 Tbsp. flour
2 eggs
1 cup grated sharp cheese (or other need-to-use cheese)
4 strips cooked and crumbled bacon (or need-to-use ham, cooked beef, etc.)
Crust: Mix softened margarine, cream cheese, and flour to make crust. Shape into 1-inch balls and press into mini-quiche/tart pans.
Filling: Mix cream, eggs, grated cheese, and crumbled meat
Spoon filling mixture into crust and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Makes approximately 3 dozen mini quiches.
Easy Fruit Cobbler
1 stick butter
3 cups fresh fruit
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup whole milk
1 tsp. baking powder
Pinch of salt
Place stick of butter in pan and melt in the oven. Mix flour, sugar, milk, baking powder, and salt together, then pour into the baking dish, over the melted butter. Add the fresh fruit on top of the batter. Bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden.
Some of Chef Don’s favorite fruits for this recipe include apples, peaches and blackberries.
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