Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazz Mills.
Hi Jazz, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As someone who lives off of human connection, I was looking for a way to safely connect with people during the beginning of Covid. I was also very angry to see the lack of resources available to the food insecure in our town even though there is a surplus. Not only is there a surplus, but a lot of food is being wasted or misdirected. I started making meals in my house and handing them out to people I saw on the street and then realized that another friend of mine (Carrie Fussell) was doing the same thing in her neighborhood. We decided to join forces and do it more consistently in the same area so that the unhoused could rely on us showing up. We started in May of 2020 and by February 2021, we had turned the efforts into a business, had two more staff members, and we serving meals 5 days a week. Over the years, we partners with The Other Ones Foundation, Our Shared Kitchen, and Walk by Faith Ministry to ensure that every resident in The Esperanza Community would receive 3 meals a day/365 days a year.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Feeding a large group of people is never easy. Mass food production is labor intensive no matter what, but feeding a large number of people, many of who are experiencing mental illness, is a next level task. The hardest part of the program is making sure that our meal support is nuanced enough to meet everyone’s needs. Is the food soft enough? Will the food travel well since most of this community is on the go? Is there nutrition in the food? Is the food familiar to them?
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most proud of turning an issue that I was upset about into a job for myself and my friends. Our entire team comes from a creative background. My background is in music, event production, and music management. We have a photographer, and 4 other musicians on staff. None of us have a background in food production or social work and yet we have managed to keep 100 unhoused residents fed for almost 5 years. It is important to me to show people that you do not have to have special skills to help in your community. You just have to be willing to learn, evolve, and stay consistent.
What does success mean to you?
All parties involved have to win.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://freelunch.atx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f_r_e_e_lunch/?hl=en
Image Credits
First photo of me in the red top is by Eryn-Brooke Crow.
All additional photos are by Jade Skye Hammer.
