Angela Maez

Jeremy Stern

Dear Friends at SLO BBQ - yesterday we used SLO BBQ for a graduation program of some incredible men, who have spent the last 16 weeks learning, writing about, and getting trained on how to be a support person for those at end of life, in need or memory care, and/or are in need of palliative care support. They had all expressed an interest in us providing BBQ to celebrate this milestone accomplishment. We garlic bread, fire-roasted veggies, beans, chicken, tri tip, and ribs. We served about 100 people. Each one of them came down the line, and their eyes widened, some were tearful...OMG that looks delicious, I haven't had a rib in 25 years! one man exclaimed, those behind him said the same, years, 20, 25, 29 years, they hadn't had vegetables (those went first, we ran out of the veggies!), or chicken or beef in decades. They pronounced everything they ate as better than the last thing they had tasted. There was enough for most of them to come back for a 3rd rib...and trip tip and chicken. For those of us serving these men, it was hard not to be in tears, at both their hard work, and the incredible appreciation they held for those who had prepared this food, which felt like reaching an oasis in a desert of despair. Food heals, and hard work heals. The graduates of the Palliative Care Peer Support training program at the California Men's Colony can't email you themselves, but I wanted to thank you all for creating food that will never be forgotten, unlike the men that ate it are, all too often...you will never find a more appreciative group of eaters than the the folks we served there yesterday! THANK YOU ALL!!!