This story first appeared in the Spring 2024 edition of our “Peas & Carrots” newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here.

In 2013, Lawanzer “Lou” Perkins Johnson was looking for a fresh start. After 20 years of unfulfilling work in call centers, she knew there was a bigger purpose for her somewhere, something that could allow her to better support her children and prioritize her sobriety.

When she learned about Second Helpings’ Culinary Job Training program, it felt like the answer she’d been searching for – she and her husband decided the program would be worth pursuing, “to really take a chance on turning something I love into a career.”

For Lou, the most important, and most challenging, part of this program was attendance. “If you’re not there, you’re behind. You have to be committed or this won’t work.” The award for perfect attendance continues to be one of the most coveted accomplishments announced at each Culinary Job Training graduation ceremony.

“The most valuable thing I learned was mise en place.” (This French term for putting in place is used in the culinary industry to describe the discipline and setup every chef needs to prepare before they start cooking.) “You need time management and structure. You have to have the right mindset. I’m always thinking about tomorrow, to make sure I have everything I need. Those ingredients translate to the rest of your life, and give you structure at home.”

Lou graduated with Class 71 in April 2013 – and then went straight to work, accepting a job offer as a cook at the Ruth Lilly Women and Children’s Center, a Salvation Army-managed facility in downtown Indianapolis that serves unhoused adults and families affected by domestic violence.

Less than a year later, she was promoted to Kitchen Manager. We recently caught up with Chef Lou, who’s celebrating more than 10 years serving the families at the Women and Children’s Center. She now manages a staff of nine who prepare three meals a day for the families and individuals living there.

“I came here with a focus on nutrition. I want our food to be healthy, but still comforting and familiar. Food is good for the soul, too. We’re going to feed you physically, mentally, and spiritually here.”

Prioritizing comforting nutrition is critical in this environment, Lou explained. Clients staying at this facility may have come straight from an abusive situation or from being unhoused. Food can be an incredible comfort during a crisis, and families often have no way to provide that for themselves. Moreover, “homelessness and domestic violence don’t discriminate – they impact all cultures and can reach anyone,” Lou shared.

Food brings people together. New clients may avoid large group settings at first, but that means missing out on shared experiences and connecting with additional resources. But food is a great way to bring people in. “People come all the way down the hall to find out what’s happening in the cafeteria because the food smells so good,” Lou smiles.

In 2020, though, the Center’s food budget was cut. Lou knew her team could not sacrifice the quantity or quality of the meals they provided every day, that the families depended on those meals.

From both her experience as a Culinary Job Training student, and collaboration with other Salvation Army facilities who partnered with Second Helpings, Chef Lou knew exactly who to call.

Since 2020, Second Helpings has provided more than 70,000 meals and 55,000 pounds of additional food to the Ruth Lilly Women and Children’s Center.

This full-circle experience with Second Helpings “has been a blessing,” Chef Lou says. “It feels good to serve food from my alma mater, and I get to show off your food to all our amazing families.”

“Whenever we need anything, I know I can call Second Helpings. When I come in to redirect sessions, I see so many familiar faces. It’s a family, and it’s fun to stay connected in a different way.”

When we asked Chef Lou to reflect on her culinary career, starting from an introductory program, to now supervising a team of nine, she was brought to tears.

“It feels amazing. I have met so many wonderful people, and I’m not done yet!”