Cooking with Passion and Purpose
By Tammy Thornton
Not so long ago, Theresa Mazie, felt a sense of restlessness. It seemed as though something was telling her that she should make a big move in life, and things needed to change. But what did that mean? Her love of capturing photos of sunrises and sunsets filled her Facebook pages as did her other passion, cooking for others. But she wanted to use her talents and passions in a meaningful way.
Then, while searching on a job finding app, one listing really jumped out at her: “Kitchen help for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission”. That was just three months ago and now Theresa finds herself as one of the team of three cooks that serve over 500 meals of breakfast, lunch, and dinner for men, women, and children each day. On cold days, and at the end of the month as food stamps or money dwindles, those numbers grow. She throws herself into her cooking and strives to provide those less fortunate than herself delicious homemade meals served with dignity and respect. Theresa is always looking for new ways to treat those under her culinary care with creative and healthy dishes.
Theresa has always had a heart for the homeless and needy. Growing up in Philadelphia and finding herself on her own at the age of 15, she didn’t have an easy life and realizes that she too could have been homeless. She is always searching for ways to care for the needy, whether working tirelessly at her church to gather winter coats and gloves for the homeless, or going on a short-term mission trip to serve poor people in the Dominican Republic.
When people come through the food line at the rescue mission, she sees a life and a story. Recently, two men came through her line and were speaking a different language. Theresa was delighted to recognize the Chinese dialect as the same one she is able to speak (another hidden talent of hers). Because she was able to understand them, she learned they had missing teeth and it was hard for them to chew some of the food being offered. Theresa was able to accommodate them because of her knowledge of the language. She enjoys not only feeding those around her but getting to know their story.
Perhaps getting up before the crack of dawn to photograph sunrises prepared her for her current occupation. Theresa rises around 3:45 am so that she can be ready to “make the donuts” at 5:00 am. However, that’s just her little joke; what she’s actually preparing is chicken cacciatore, banana bread, chocolate chip bread pudding, antipasto salad, and kung pao chicken.
She doesn’t always know what ingredients will be available to cook, since 100% of their food is donated. She works with what she has and sometimes buys things herself to make it special for those she has come to love. One day she really wanted to make a dish with bacon and was about to buy it, but decided to wait, saying to herself, “God will provide”. Her faith was confirmed when she arrived at work to find that someone had donated two large boxes of restaurant-style bacon. She asserts that God is always listening.
Though they have fallen on tough times, many men and women going through the food line at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission are enrolled in programs to get their lives back on track. “Clients” as they are called are working their way through what is normally a 120-day program geared to equip them to lead productive lives. Theresa wants to show them love along the way.
Her latest personal project has been to make “bags of blessing” for women in the program at the mission. These bags are not just any bags though. She purchased the bags from a friend at her church, who’s working with women from Nicaragua that have escaped from abuse and human trafficking. They sew decorative bags and sell them as a way to support themselves. Theresa plans to fill the totes with supplies and give them to women at the mission but will auction one bag off on Facebook to raise money for the Nicaraguan women.
When others have applauded her efforts in giving she responded that God, “has blessed me so much I must and am called to use those blessing(s) to help others. I am so thankful He saved me from a life on the streets so I must do my small part to help others.”
If you’d like to donate items for the kitchen, Theresa has her own personal wish list: milk, cheese, butter, and any type of cooking oil (esp. olive oil!). Also check out the mission website which has an extensive list of needed items. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission always welcomes volunteers and donations. For information on volunteering your time, money, or resources, call: (609) 345-5517 ext.165 or go to their website acrescuemission.org
Questions about this article can also be directed to: shorelocalgardener@gmail.com
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
