Camphill Duffcarrig Community Village

I worked in Camphill Duffcarrig Community Village from May 2002 till June 2003 as a co-worker; cooking, cleaning, also working in Weavery, Basketery, Estate Group and helping ladies with Autism and Downsyndrome mainly. There, I met really great people and one of them is Josie McCarthy from the US. She is now a food program manager in Oregon and her short message this morning reminded me of the time back to Ireland.

Duffcarrig House

I lived in an amazingly large room just upper ground of the living room.

Willow chair

(L-R: Willy, Simon M., Raymond, Little John, Eiji, Heidi, JoonHeon, Mike)

Core town forest (Simon)

Simon M. and Lee used to walk along the forest. It is beautiful

with blue bells underneath in spring.

Community store(L-R: Maire C, a co-worker, Sara)

I was a shopkeeper for few months.

Duffcarrig beach(L-R: SangBae, Lee, Joerg and Utz behind)

The night before SangBae left, all of us ran into the sea as he had never swum for a year. It was in the middle of December with bloody wind but we carried bottles of wine and made a fire. The chicky ones were just watching and waiting for us outside.

Co-worker's caravan

(L-R: front-Basti, Lee, SangBae, Joerg, Birgit
/ back-Gabi, Martina?, Anna-Maria)

Just before we went to the beach at the same crazy night.


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http://www.foodforlanecounty.org/Programs/Family_Dinner/Dining%20Room.html

Dining Room Serves Up Dignity with Dinner


For Josie McCarthy, FOOD for Lane County’s Family Dinner Program Manager, the Dining Room is all about the ability to serve.
"When life is treating us good we enjoy a meal out, so why not give to those people whose lives have been unkind the opportunity to be waited on," McCarthy said.













FOOD for Lane County Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator Laurie Trieger joined other volunteers recently to serve diners.



McCarthy, who spent 28 years as a waitress and restaurant manager, is also a social worker. She lived for 10 days on the streets of her native Chicago, researching a book she would later write on homelessness. The experience gave her a window into a world few of us will ever see.


“The restaurant experience is out of the picture if you’re homeless," McCarthy said.

"You’re living raw every day, just doing whatever you can to survive. Being homeless, living on the street or in your car, going through dumpsters for food, that kind of life strips you of your dignity. One goal of the Dining Room has always been to restore some of that dignity.”


The Dining Room menu includes fresh fruit, a salad of mixed greens, a meat entree, a pasta or potato dish, vegetables, a dessert and a beverage of coffee, juice, milk or tea. All at no cost to diners.


Families with children and seniors 60 and older are invited to eat Tuesdays and Fridays. Single adults are invited to eat Mondays and Wednesdays. Since 2004, the Dining Room has experienced a 50% increase in service, averaging 150 diners a night.




Serving More than Meals


The Dining Room is a far cry from the soup kitchens of yesteryear that evolved from the Depression era.

Eugene artist Alison McNair leads a craft table on Friday nights

at the Dining Room where children can make cards for family

and friends.

"I feel good about the food we’re serving," said McCarthy.

"The meals are hot, the food is nutritious and it tastes good. But the Dining Room is about more than food. It’s about connecting with another human being, even for an hour. It’s having someone look at you and smile and say, 'What would you like?' and 'Can I help you?' It’s about being seen when most of the time you're invisible."

This summer, Market of Choice is donating fresh flowers for the tables.
“The diners love the flowers,” McCarthy said. “For most people who have been surviving on little or no income, the flowers take them back to a time when they were able to enjoy some of the extras in life. Fresh flowers say our diners are worth it.”


Homeless, Not Helpless

Several diners are also regular volunteers. Others want to help but don’t know what they can do or don’t think anyone would even want their help.

"A woman came in recently who’s been coming for years," said McCarthy. "She’s homeless, but she wanted to pay for her meal. So she gave me $1.55 in change. It was all the money she had."

McCarthy recalled another night after the Dining Room had closed.
“I was driving home and was stopped at a stop sign downtown. A diner who is also a Viet Nam vet stuck his head out of a cardboard box he lives in and yelled, “Hey Josie! Great meal tonight!” Then he crawled back into his box.”

"To make even a small difference in someone's life is an honor for me," said McCarthy.

"Our diners give back to me so much more than I am able to do for them. I'm grateful for the opportunity to help."

For more information about FOOD for Lane County’s Family Dinner Program or to volunteer, call (541) 343-2822 or email jmccarthy@foodforlanecounty.org.