We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angela Poen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Angela, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I’m not sure I found my purpose, I think a purpose found me. I have always felt called to volunteer and have been involved with several different wonderful groups of people working to make life better for others. One Saturday a month, I hosted a group of ladies at my house for Bible study. That particular day, we discussed hunger in our community. Most of us did not know food insecurity was a major issue for thousands of people our county. Two of the ladies in the group were principals at Title One elementary schools and informed us that over 8,000 children in just one school district, were on the free and reduced meal program. Shocked at this information we started to research to learn more and were surprised to discover the severity of food insecurity and that there was not a place where people could receive a free meal if they were in a crisis situation. As I was walking around the kitchen table refilling everyones coffee cups, I just blurted out “well we will just raise the money and build a place”. I realized this was a need i could not ignore, so it became my purpose.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As I look back over the past two years Community Garden Kitchen (CGK) has been in operation, I’m filled with gratitude and a deep sense of fulfillment. The team of volunteers and I faced many challenges, celebrated successes, and most importantly, made a meaningful impact in the lives of many people.
I have the privilege of welcoming wonderful guests to the dining facility for a free, freshly prepared meal. I am blessed to be working with dedicated, compassionate volunteers, and generous donors into our community. One of the best things is seeing the amazing generosity from so many people who have been so instrumental in our efforts to combat food insecurity in Collin County, Tx.
The need for our services is evident, with the number of guests steadily increasing each month. Inflation and economic hardships have made it even more challenging for single moms, children, the working poor, and seniors to access sufficient food.
While there are several food banks in our area, many individuals face barriers such as conflicting schedules, lack of transportation, and eligibility requirements that prevent them from accessing these resources. Our mission at Community Garden Kitchen is to bridge this gap by providing evening meals to those in need, ensuring that everyone can dine with dignity.
Thanks to the dedication and kindness of our volunteers, we have been able to uphold our motto of “Dining with Dignity.” We serve anyone in need of a meal, no questions asked, and no paperwork required.
My ultimate goal is to eliminate food insecurity in Collin County. Providing access to healthy and nutritious food can truly change lives for the better, setting individuals on a path towards a brighter future.
My next goal is to install a work ready certification program for teens aging out of foster care. I am working with the Texas Restaurant Association to design a course to teach teens how to work in a restaurant and hospitality industry. I hope to launch the classes in September 2024.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities, skills, an areas of knowledge that have enabled me to open a free meal restaurant are diverse, but the most influential is faith, because without that nothing would have happened. I have a background in business, worked in advertising and design fields, and owned a couple of business with my husband. My work experience and ethic helped immensely.
Learning to keep the “main thing, the main thing” is essential to achieving a goal. Becoming discouraged when it seems everything is going against you is part of almost every journey. Some people will believe in you, some won’t. Accept it and move on, there is a lot of two steps forward, one step back, when a big undertaking is developing. Just keep moving ahead and you will eventually get there. Pray a lot.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The Bible has been the most important influence in my life, and especially for completing this project. I take heart, and laugh, in knowing that the Lord doesn’t alway pick the most qualified people to meet a need, that was certainly the case in allowing me to build Community Garden Kitchen.
Most people want to have a purpose in life, to help others and make a meaningful impact. Even the smallest kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life, and perhaps the world. The ripple effect of kindness is amazing.
This verse encouraged me to build CGK – Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,”
If you think it’s the right thing to do, do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.communitygardenkitchen.org
- Instagram: community_garden_kitchen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/communitygardenkitchenofcollincounty/
- Youtube: community garden kitchen of collin county
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
