Lanine is a chef at Walden House, one of the Food Bank’s partner organizations. For her, preparing a delicious meal is a way to provide love and compassion to Walden House residents who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
Lanine has made a career of helping others, using food as a way to nourish the body and soul. And she knows why that’s so important.
Five years ago, Lanine’s life was quite different. She was living in a shelter with her daughter Ava, who was three years old. They started getting some of their meals at St. Anthony’s Dining Room, which gets food from the Food Bank.
“When I was homeless, I didn’t have a kitchen or any means to make my own food,” said Lanine. “I didn’t feel like I belonged there, but I thought, I’ve got to feed Ava. She’s hungry, and I’m hungry. Your preconceived notions of who ends up eating at soup kitchens can really change drastically when it’s you.”
One day, Lanine and Ava were in line at St. Anthony’s when a Food Bank photographer took some pictures of Ava who loved posing for the camera. Ava was so photogenic, her image ended up on delivery trucks and food barrels. After seeing her face on a truck, Ava asked her mom, “Mommy, am I famous?” And Lanine said, “Yes, honey, you kind of are.”
A lot has changed for Lanine and Ava since then. Because of the food from St. Anthony’s and the Food Bank, Lanine had the strength to get back on her feet.
“When you have a full stomach, your outlook on life is a lot better, and you can think more clearly,”
said Lanine who is not only able to feed her own family, but is giving back to the community by cooking at Walden House.
Lanine’s story demonstrates how when people turn their lives around, it can have a ripple effect in the world.
And as for Ava, she’s doing well in school and excels in drama class. She still loves showing off for the camera.
