“We oversee the whole food outreach operation. We come up with menu ideas. Prep everything and try to serve a nice meal twice a week, and we’re out Mondays and Tuesdays.

We like giving someone a wholesome meal and then, in turn, that helps bring them in and start the dialogue and hopefully get a connection going with our partners and resources. A meal can change your entire perspective, and help you make good decisions. So we’re making people happy, even if it’s for the day or for the hour.

In the past, we were using a lot of free products, whatever we could get our hands on. But as we’ve grown, we now have a food budget, and we can think ahead. It’s been really fun and rewarding. I’m excited to see where it goes.”

Jesse Tschannen is the Mobile Outreach Chef for Make-A-Day, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the communities of central Ohio. Founded in 2018, MAD’s mission is to create moments of dignity, community, and service through outreach, advocacy, education, and acts of kindness.