• Tawny Cowen-Zanders

Doing Good for Others - One Meal at a Time

Naples, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2017) – As a professional chef in luxury hotels for over 20 years, James Monahan is used to cooking with the finest ingredients for a clientele that enjoys the finer things in life.  Today, he may not be cooking in a luxury hotel with the finest ingredients but he is putting his professional skill set and compassionate heart to good use as a volunteer chef for The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Irma relief effort in Collier County.  His dedication and organization ensures over 5,000 nutritious meals are produced and delivered daily to a community that desperately needs them.

Originally, James had planned to provide Hurricane Harvey relief through Samaritan’s Purse in Houston; however, his plans quickly changed when Hurricane Irma made landfall in his community.  “If you want to live in a community,” explained James, “you have to take the good times and the bad times. I knew I could not leave Florida when the bad times arrived.”

James quickly volunteered to cook for The Salvation Army’s relief efforts.  Since he is used to cooking in large hotels, producing large quantities of quality meals is no problem for him. “At the end of the day, this is why I became a chef.  I want to use my gift of cooking to bring joy to others,” shared James.  “I know I am bringing joy to individuals who need it.  While I can’t see their faces when they eat the meal, I am gratified to know they are receiving nourishment from my work.”

Through the kitchen volunteers’ efforts, Collier County has provided over 40,000 meals.  When James hears this amazing number, he shrugs off the credit.  “My personal creed is every day you get out of bed and your feet hit the floor, you are blessed with another opportunity to do good for others.”

The Salvation Army in Collier County is grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who continually look for opportunities to do good for others.  They are “the Army behind The Army.”