“What would you like for dinner?” might seem like a mundane question to most people.
But ordering a dinner of their choice or having a holiday meal is a treat for guests of Nest Community Shelter in Michigan City. Recently, two area restaurants partnered with the shelter to make their nightly meals something special.
Prior to Easter, Mark and Amanda Kolasa contacted the Nest about planning a holiday meal. The Kolasas own The Polish Peasant restaurant in Michigan City. Both natives of Michigan City, they are also the restaurant’s chefs, preparing and serving Polish American dishes.
The Kolasas worked with the shelter to provide Easter dinner. The Polish Peasant donated a holiday dinner with ham, vegetables, noodles and rolls to the Nest.
Earlier in March, La Patrona Food Truck in Michigan City donated dinner to shelter guests. The food truck pulled up to the shelter before dinner time. Nest’s guests could order anything they wanted from the truck menu. La Patrona’s menu included street food and snacks such as Mexican tacos, ramen birria and Mexican corn.
“We know that for many, food is love, and we have been so blessed by the incredible outpouring of support from our restaurant community in Michigan City,” said Harrison Holtkamp, Nest’s executive director, in a press release. “The smile on the faces of our guests when they receive a hot plate of food donated through the generosity of our local restaurants is powerful.”
Nest Community Shelter is a nonprofit organization that provides temporary emergency shelter for homeless men, women and children in La Porte County. Formerly called Interfaith Community PADS, the shelter was founded in 2002 by two women who were concerned about the homeless men during the cold winter months. The shelter is housed in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Michigan City.
(Photo provided by Nest Community Shelter)
