‘When it’s God, it’s good.’ An out-of-work cook joins Miami’s homeless at Christmas lunch
It’s been two months since he arrived at the Salvation Army shelter near Allapattah, but Emery Jackson doesn’t expect he’ll need to stay for very long.
This is not his first Christmas Day at a shelter. It’s happened before, but he reminds himself this is just for the time being — just like it was the last time. So this is temporary, until he can get back on his feet after losing his job as a cook for a now-closed catering business in Downtown Miami.
“It was depressing to know the job was going to end and I guess that’s what was going to take place anyway, you know, everything happens for a reason,” says Jackson, 52. “But when it’s God, it’s good.”
He really wishes he was the one giving back to the community he’s been part of for most of his life. He slurps up the Christmas meal of mashed potatoes, colorful mixed salad and breaded chicken with gravy served on a foam plate, and delivered to him by a brigade of about 20 young kids.
They’re the children of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation in South Dade, the youngest of whom have been volunteering at this same dining room for the annual Christmas event for most of their lives.
“This day is so special because I wasn’t expecting this. I wasn’t expecting Christmas dinner. I wanted that but I wasn’t expecting it,” Jackson said. “If I ever accomplish the goals I have... I want to give back.”
Of the 175 residents at this shelter, about 70 people came through to be served a hot meal — some of them children themselves.
To Jackson’s left sits Sheryl Green, also 52. A Miami native, she lost her last job as a customer service agent at a local call center as her body became progressively disabled by a debilitating liver disease. Keeping up with medical bills and surgeries has made it difficult for her to imagine a life outside her shelter.
“That does come with being homeless, you know, depression, because I had depression,” Green said. “I was so surprised when I saw this place. It made me feel real good.”
She has made a friend at the shelter in her time here, but has otherwise remained on her own.
“This is an opportunity to show our kids, you know, people are struggling. But here’s a way to make people feel great about themselves and feel wanted,” said Elyssa Lewis, chair of the South Dade Gives Back program at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. “They’ve really had a chance to grow up volunteering and helping.”
But like most of the people around him, Jackson thinks today is not the day to talk about those struggles. Today is about propping up his aspirations, his hope to soon be back on the other side of the kitchen counter, cooking.
“Maybe this was meant for me to see,” Jackson said. “I am getting ready, prepared, I’m praying to God and everything, and then I’m out. I’m gone.”
This story was originally published December 25, 2019 at 4:55 PM.
