Catering to Love: Loving People One Plate at a Time
We’ve all seen it – on television, in movies, in person. It’s the famous “air kiss.” Most frequently, it’s between two females, but can also be exchanged between a male and a female.
Truthfully, it should not be referred to as a kiss since it’s devoid of all traces of affection. It’s simply a greeting.
There are no “simple greetings” in the world of C.J. and Melinda Wardlow. They walk, talk, breathe, and live love. It’s a bit difficult to explain how these two people, along with their dedicated staff of volunteers, are love. They “speak” prayer as easily and as naturally as they speak ordinary English, and they do it with (what else?) love.
“We started Catering to Love 16 years ago,” C.J. explained. “It was born from another small, technology business we have, which services mom/pop food-related companies such as restaurants.
“We met a lot of people in the food business. Different paths opened for us. We gathered recipes and learned to cook them. Things began happening, and it was beautiful.
“We’re involved in a broad variety of events. Sometimes it’s something as simple as providing sno-cones for a back-to-school function. Other times it’s a full-scale dinner. One of our most memorable efforts was on behalf of a young lady who aged out of the foster system with, tragically, stage 4 cancer. She’d never experienced a prom or other teenage milestones.
“Our volunteers really stepped up for that one. We wore suits and bow ties and made everything as prom-like as possible. The volunteers adored it, and it was such a beautiful example of what can happen when people come together in love.”
Catering to Love works only through a referral chain, with the people on the other end making the initial contact. The only element Catering to Love lacks at this point is enough volunteers to make all the requests happen.
“We turned down eight events last week,” C.J. said. “We certainly didn’t want to, but we just didn’t have enough volunteers to make it happen. Just recently, we had five events in one morning, and one of the functions had just one person working it.
“One of the things we’ve learned is how God puts odd people together and makes it work. Actually, it’s sometimes comical to watch these relationships in progress.”
Money derived from Catering to Love’s functions finds its way back into the organization.
Being a part of a group such as Catering to Love tends to culture a different perspective in people. A beautiful example is when C.J. said, “To me, waiters and waitresses are in one of the noblest professions on earth because they serve people. If they perform that service in love, they can change a person’s day or week or, believe it or not, entire life. To waste such an opportunity is truly sad.
“Regardless of how humble, something done in love has a tremendous value. That’s one of the reasons we say catering ‘to’ love – not catering ‘with’ or ‘from’ but ‘to.’ Something that is catered to has a tendency to grow deeper and larger until it becomes unstoppable.
“Our unwavering belief is love is the answer to everything, for the giver and for the receiver.”
Catering to Love handles approximately 150 events per year. The primary guideline is for each participant contributing to the function aspires to show up with his or her best in tow. Nothing less.
The “chefs” have whittled the production of meals to a fine science. Each has a tried and true recipe with a simple preparation formula. Each is delicious, and each is served with a professional presentation. Food for smaller functions
is usually prepared in private kitchens, while larger affairs often have kitchens at the venue sites.
There are plenty of salt and pepper shakers and other spices for seasoning at the Catering to Love preparation tables, but the largest shaker/grinder is labeled “Love” in big, bold letters.
For more information:
Info@CateringToLove.org
817.898.1308
