Ron Black, head cook at Harvest Algoma, firmly believes he has been called to help the hungry in Sault Ste. Marie.
Harvest Algoma receives food donated on a regular basis from several local grocery stores such as Rome’s, Metro and Food Basics.
Assisted by a team of volunteers at Harvest Algoma's depot and kitchen on Second Line East, Black takes that food and prepares meals to be transported to the men’s shelter on Wellington Street East.
Receiving donated food from local grocery stores is always an interesting experience for Black.
“I don’t know what will be coming through the door as far as food donations are concerned. It could be veal or pork chops, it could be ground beef, it could be chicken, ribs, fruit, vegetables, bread and potatoes. We get muffins and cookies. There's a whole range of things we get,” Black told SooToday in a recent interview.
Some donated food is frozen and kept for future meals while other food must be quickly cooked and shipped out for those in need.
“You cook it and serve it because it goes back into the community and feeds up to 65 people a day at the men’s shelter,” Black said.
The days are busy but fulfilling for Black.
“I try to get here at 6:30 in the morning and I usually leave around 3:30. Depending on what's going on I'm here until 6. When the truck shows up it’s a stimulant, a lift. It really brings everybody together. It’s a real bonding time with the staff and volunteers.”
Black also prepares frozen meals sold by Meals by Harvest, profiled by SooToday in February.
Funds raised from frozen dinner sales go straight back into Harvest Algoma’s ongoing commitment to address food insecurity in Sault Ste. Marie.
Black was trained as a professional chef in his native Alberta and has lived in the Sault for more than 30 years.
He worked as a cook at the former Beef n' Brand Restaurant in Station Mall and the former Ramada Inn (now Quattro Hotel & Conference Centre).
“After working at the Ramada Inn, I wanted to go into the nursing homes to cook for the residents. I think I’ve always had that caring nature,” Black said.
With a desire to feed and care for others, Black worked as a cook at F. J. Davey Home for 27 years.
He looks back on his employment at the Davey Home in a positive way but Harvest Algoma’s mission to feed the community’s hungry caught Black’s attention.
He joined the Harvest Algoma team as head cook three years ago.
Though paid to be head cook, Black emphasized the valuable role that volunteers play in assisting him in the preparation of meals at Harvest Algoma.
"If I say ‘I cook here’ it really means ‘we cook here’ because everything's done with the volunteers and their help,” Black said.
An evangelical Christian, Black said he felt divinely led to cook at Harvest Algoma and live out the Christian belief in helping those in need.
“There are parents out there praying for their kids, for someone to help them with the problems that they're in. I feel I’ve been prayed to this place so that their kids are getting fed and being looked after,” Black said.