Nutrition for the Spirit: Earl’s Story
When Earl first made up his mind to visit Manna Meal, he had no idea he’d be walking away with so much more than a full belly.
It was October of 2019, and Earl’s job search had, again, hit a dead end—he was living out of Charleston’s men’s shelter and trying to stretch the few dollars he had left in his pocket to cover the next meal. Then one of the guys at the shelter told him about a place he could get a good, healthy meal at no charge and no hassle.
That afternoon, Earl found himself standing in Manna Meal’s entryway, greeted by all the smells of a kitchen-in-action and the sound of friendly chatter. As Earl ambled down the cafeteria line, his tray was piled high with a colorful mix of foods, piping hot, just waiting to be enjoyed. This was not a meal that had been hurriedly thrown together. It hadn’t been pulled out of the back of the freezer, popped in the microwave, and tossed onto the plate in front of him.
It was flavorful and well-cooked and, to top it all off, served—in Earl’s own words—with a smile and kindness.
“You can tell when people care and when they don’t,” said Earl. “The folks at Manna Meal care. And that’s as good, as nutritional for the spirit as food is for the body.”
Earl started visiting daily, drawn back as much by the food as by the community he’d discovered. He’d been a regular at Manna Meal for a number of months when he heard they were hiring.
Knowing that Earl was still out of a job and having taken note of his obvious skill with people, a Manna Meal staff member encouraged him to apply. Earl didn’t need to give it a second thought: he quickly polished up his resume, was invited for an interview, and, before he knew it, was slipping on a brand new Manna Meal t-shirt.
Now, Earl is the one serving up meals and smiles—helping turn others’ days around.
“You can really see a difference in people from the time they come in to when they leave,” Earl remarked. “What you get at Manna Meal takes you to the next moment, the next day, the next meal, the next thing you’re looking for. It keeps you going.”
Recently, a guest approached Earl before she left, eyes glistening, and thanked him for his kindness, saying that nobody else had been kind to her that day.
“The staff and volunteers at Manna Meal always come in with the mindset of ‘What can I give?’” said Earl. “But we always get something back, too.”
To Earl, Manna Meal means a lot more than lunch or a paycheck and the ability to afford rent. It means being able to sleep easier at night because his heart is full.
Help ensure a brighter and kinder future through a donation to Manna Meal.