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Cafe strives to attract needy
By DONG-PHUONG NGUYEN, Times Staff Writer TAMPA -- You don't have to ask twice for refills on your iced tea at this cafe. Most of the time, you don't have to ask at all. The waiters generally outnumber the patrons 2-to-1 and dote on their guests like nobility. Seconds appear just as the last bite is swallowed, and plastic drink cups are topped even though they're still half full. "Dessert?" they ask, shoving plates of thick, fudgy chocolate cake onto the table. Cookies? Butter for your rolls? How about more beans and rice? About the only thing missing is someone to feed you grapes and fan you. "You get better service here than at restaurants," said Patrick Lange, a former airline baggage handler. "It doesn't get much better than this." Except this is no restaurant and these are no typical customers. This is the Faith Cafe, a simple food kitchen run by volunteers from four Tampa congregations that feed the homeless, the needy and the hungry six days a week. Because the cafe is relatively new -- it opened about a month ago -- an average of 17 people stop by a day. The kitchen is stocked to feed more than 50. Its South Tampa location hasn't helped its cause, either, but that hasn't dampened the spirits of those who run it. They have faith that the hungry will come. The homemade sign out front says: "Free hot meals 4 all in need." Will Wimmer, 38, and Lange, the 52-year-old former airline employee, were walking down Kennedy Boulevard more than a week ago when, just east of Dale Mabry, they saw the sign for Faith Cafe. The men, who live at the Salvation Army, walked into the white building and found themselves surrounded by food and fellowship. Monday, they were back again, enjoying a hot meal of rice with beans and ham hocks and fruit. The food is delivered hot from Metropolitan Ministries. The churches -- Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church and St. Mary Episcopal Church -- provide the eating utensils, napkins, drinks and little extras like the chocolates that were passed around on Monday. It's only open an hour a day, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but the volunteers have grown to know many of their visitors. They greet their guests by first name and know many of their habits. There's one homeless man, Joseph, who brings his own bottle of salad dressing, Italian, and another one, Tom, who won't let volunteers clear his plate because he was brought up to clean up after himself. And they sit and talk with their diners. About 12 volunteers work each day from a pool of 150 eager hands. They hover over their lunch guests, eager to serve. And they talk about the latest novel, job searches and life pains. It's a nice change for Joseph Amite, 49, who sleeps on church steps. He used to eat Whoppers and onion rings from Burger King trash cans. Now he enjoys spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf and other home-cooked meals. While similar services for the needy are offered in other parts of the city, some of the regulars say they like the location of the Faith Cafe. "It's a nice area," said Thomas Atcheson, 40, who lives on the streets near Britton Plaza, about an hour's walk from the cafe. "We like it around here." While Atcheson enjoyed cookies and chocolate, some dinner mates had three helpings of rice and beans. Diners are allowed to have as much as they want. Extra food is returned to Metropolitan Ministries or distributed by volunteers to other homeless people living under nearby bridges. Wimmer can't afford to buy food. He just got a job as a brick tender, but is awaiting his first paycheck. "They really help you out," Wimmer said. "They're nice, too." Some volunteers bought blankets and sleeping bags to distribute. And today, they will give away gift bags filled with snacks and toiletries. "It makes me feel very thankful for what I have," said Pat Newberry, a volunteer from Good Shepherd. "I wish that I could help them more."
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