Some enjoyed Thanksgiving on the streets of Chester
CHESTER » The blue and white tablecloths were atop the tables and the silver serving dishes were sitting above.
Inside the oven, the corn was baking and the chef, donned in formal hat and apron, was scurrying about, finishing up the feast for the guests.
“This is my second year doing this and I’m going to continue doing it as long as I can,” Chef Lamont Harris said as the sun shone down the tents set up on East Sixth Street in 40-degree temperatures. “We’ve all kinds of stuff, we’ve got turkey, ham, roast pork loin, ribs. We have fried fish, mashed potatoes, greens, And, of course, macaroni and cheese.”
Last year, Harris decided to serve up a pop-up buffet for the city’s homeless and anyone who came to his setup across from the Chester Transportation Center and this year was no different.
“He’s an amazing person,” his dad, Elder Tony Glass of Prayer Center Church and one of the volunteers, said. “He take everything out of his own pocket. Everything is out of his own pocket.”
When he was 5 years old, Lamont Harris made his first meal – a can of soup. Then, his mom, Gloria Glass, expanded his repertoire by giving him cooking lessons.
In 1989, he went into the U.S. Navy where he did a tour of the Persian Gulf from 1990 to 1991.
Harris said the Thanksgiving meals as well as his Super Saturdays where he’s doling out soup on Saturdays in the winter helps him to manage his posttraumatic stress syndrome.
In fact, it was eight years ago that the 49-year-old began his street service.
Then, he was working at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Philadelphia where he’d see people eating out of the garbage can when he would come off work. So, he started to bring sandwiches and drinks over to them, and then that grew.
On Thursday, he was surrounded by trays of food and people ready to help serve to anyone who would show up.
“I’m just out here for my city, to better my city,” Tamu Garrett, the chef’s cousin, said. “All the stuff that’s going on in Chester, we’ve got to start getting the positive stuff out there too.”
Garrett and Harris are also working together on a toy drive for the city’s children. The two are hosting a party Dec. 23 and they are collecting new toys for children between 2 and 14 years old from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Tamu’s Hand & Soul Cafe, 111-113 E. Seventh St. in Chester.
Kelli Ragland walked 15 blocks just so she wouldn’t miss it.
“Really this makes me happy,” she said. “It does. The holidays are a sad time for me and if I didn’t do nothing else, I was going to volunteer.”
She looked out at the crowds waiting patiently for chef’s creations.
“I’m happy,” Ragland said. “Look at how many people depend on this. I’m just glad to be a part of it. There’s nothing like it.”
It was the first year for Lisa Wood, who was wearing a shirt with the picture of her son, Darnell Corley. She teared up thinking about the 24-year-old who was shot to death in her house earlier this year.
Wood said she met Harris this year with his work with the youth.
“I asked him, ‘Where can I help at?’” she said and that’s what brought her to the Thanksgiving meal.
Wood shared her hope for all those in line.
“We love them,” she said. “Anything we can do to help, we are here.”
That was echoed by Harris himself who gave an enthused greeting before the serving began.
“I love seeing your faces,” he said. “I love seeing you all come out here. You are always welcome to my dinner table. Let’s eat!”
His generous spirit was not lost among the attendees.
“I will always appreciate that,” Sherard Walker said with a tray of food. “His food is always delicious, yes it is.”
Sporting an Philadelphia Eagles hat and coat, he spoke of what the event meant to him, besides getting good chicken and ham.
“It means a lot,” Walker said. “It means a lot to me, because they take their time out on this day to help out people in the neighborhood. It’s really nice. It’s really nice.”
Another diner, Clinton Johnson, agreed.
“I love it,” he smiled. “I could eat it all day. He’s been giving back to the community ever since I’ve known him ... I respect him for that – giving back to society.”
Harris said he hoped that all who came “feel a sense of pride that they are somebody. They are somebody. I don’t care who you are, what you are ... you can eat at my dinner table.”
That openness was felt by those on East Sixth Street Thursday.
“This guy right here,” Garrett pointed at Harris, “he’s special. He’s a special guy.”
“I’m just a regular guy, man,” Harris was quick to say. “I’m a regular guy, that’s all I do.” Garrett shook his head. “Be quiet, I don’t want to hear that,” he said goodnaturedly. “He don’t understand the heart that he has ... He keeps saying he’s just a regular guy, Regular guys don’t do this.”