‘Yes, chef!’ Hope Atlanta volunteer’s cuisine and compassion earn rave reviews
Angela Johnson spends most weekday mornings planning menus, prepping food, directing kitchen operations, and checking in with the esteemed guests she’s proud to serve. Her creative, Southern-style cuisine earns rave reviews. She prides herself on attention to detail, ensuring memorable guest experiences and second-to-none hospitality.
It sounds like the tireless work of a five-star restaurant chef, but Angela is a volunteer. The establishment? Hope Atlanta’s Women’s Community Kitchen (WCK), which provides hot meals and wraparound support for women and children in need. Many are experiencing homelessness.
“I get up every morning at four or five o’clock,” Angela says. “I check my email to see how many volunteers we have coming in. I do the cooking, and I coach the volunteers. I do it every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and if they were open on Monday and Friday, I think I would be there, too.”
Angela was introduced to Hope Atlanta and the WCK about a year ago, shortly after opening her business, Pink Gloves Catering. The Postal Service retiree and mother of four has been a dedicated volunteer ever since and is beloved by the Hope Atlanta clients who frequent the Kitchen.
“They call me Miss Pink because I wear something pink every day,” she says. “They say, ‘Hey, Miss Pinky, what are we having today?’ I have a very good relationship with them. We celebrate every holiday.”
Recently, the WCK celebrated Mardi Gras with jazz music, beads, lively decorations, and a special menu for the occasion: Angela’s gumbo and jambalaya. Other guest-favorite dishes have included gouda grits, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken alfredo. Like a fine dining establishment, Chef Angela also caters to diners’ dietary requirements.
“We’ve made vegetable fried rice for people who don’t like to eat meat,” Angela explains. “We have people that say, ‘I don’t like to do spices,’ so I’ve had to do something special for them as well.”
When Angela heard about The Melody, an innovative new housing community where Hope Atlanta provides wraparound support like food assistance to residents transitioning from homelessness, she jumped at the opportunity to help. After her shifts at the Women’s Community Kitchen, she drives to The Melody to drop off food.
“They have microwaves and a little refrigerator, but they don’t have hot food,” Angela says. “They get a hot meal, and I’m building a relationship with them. They are always waiting for me on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday when I get there.”
For Angela, one of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering is connecting with those she serves.
“Everybody has a story,” she says. “When you talk to the ladies, they are just normal people just like us. They just fell on hard times.”
Interested in joining Angela and the other dedicated volunteers at Hope Atlanta? We’re always looking for extra hands and resources to support our clients at the Women’s Community Kitchen, The Melody, and those transitioning from homelessness. Volunteering for Hope Atlanta is a wonderful corporate team-building activity, and we welcome groups of all sizes.
Click here for current volunteer opportunities, or contact Sarina Marsh, Director of Community Engagement.
Established in 1900, Hope Atlanta is Georgia’s longest-standing organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness. We work 1–1 with our clients to secure housing and other basic needs, with ongoing support to empower them on their journeys to self-sufficiency.
