Okay, let’s have some fun.
As I have repeatedly mentioned, one of the things I have really enjoyed in writing these words of encouragement is that others send some really amazing things back to me.
For example, Brent, one of the great associates here at TranzAct, sent me a note with a link to an article about a Chicago restaurant owner who is truly making a difference. When I read the article, I was intrigued, but truth be told, I also laughed.
I laughed because in 1967, our family moved to Cuernavaca, Mexico. At the time, it was a quaint little town that was considered the “Land of the Eternal Spring,” because of its ideal climate. During the day, temperatures would climb into the high 70s or low 80s. In the evening, they would cool down into the high 60s or low 70s.
If the temperature ever fell in to the mid-60s, or—heaven forbid—went even lower, it was considered the equivalent an “arctic blast.” On those extremely rare occasions, we would put on our sweaters and ask what the weather forecast was going to be. And since we were living in Mexico, we would jokingly respond, “It’s Chile today, but it will be hot tamale!” To this day, I have no idea who first uttered these words, but they became part of our family routine.
So fast-forward with me 50+ years later. The article that Brent sent opened with this headline: Restaurant Owner is Buying out Tamale Vendors to Get Them out of the Cold—and Giving Away Food to Those in Need.
The story highlights how restauranteur Robert Magiet has helped feed thousands of hungry neighbors by organizing two massive holiday meal giveaways in 2020. And as the article noted, “He doesn’t plan to slow down in 2021.”
What is he doing now? After driving through his neighborhood and noticing a tamale vendor bundled up and selling his food in 15° weather, Robert pulled over and said, “If I buy all your tamales, will you go home?"
He proceeded to buy all the tamales, and continues to do so. He delivers the tamales to people experiencing homelessness at encampments and shelters. And every morning, he wakes up at 5:30am and buys out a different tamale vendor.
“The vendors are so grateful. They’re honestly in disbelief that it’s happening.”
After reading about Robert, I couldn’t help but think, given the actual arctic blast that we are experiencing here in Chicago, it isn’t Chile today—it is downright bitterly cold. So I called Brent, who lives on the border of North Lawndale and Little Village on Chicago’s west side, where there are lots of tamale vendors, and I asked if we should be like Bob and send someone home early by buying all of their tamales.
So this past Tuesday, with the weather at 6° and the windchill well below zero, we had the privilege of purchasing all of Natalia’s tamales. And she told us she was glad to be getting out of the cold. It felt so good that we went to another tamale vendor and purchased a bunch of her tamales as well. We had to leave some though, because there was a line of people standing behind us and they wanted some for themselves!
We delivered the tamales to the food pantry in Little Village run by New Life Centers. The staff there thanked us and assured us that there would be some happy people eating those hot tamales on such a cold day.
Over the past couple of weeks, our weekly words of encouragement have highlighted the “Power of One” and the need to be kind. So Bob, and people like him, helps remind us that each one of us have more power than we can imagine and that there are a lot of great things that are happening in this wonderful country of ours—even if we don’t always realize it.
The power doesn’t necessarily have to be used on something grandiose—it may be something as simple as driving a car. Because as Bob noted, if he can build a reliable base of volunteer drivers willing to meet on a regular basis, he could schedule more deliveries and feed more people.
“There’s so many people that are in need,” he said. “We’re not stopping. This is gonna keep going on for a long, long time.”
The thought of helping those out in the cold while also those that are in need of food in these COVID times calls to mind some words from Isaiah 58:10: “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness.”
That was certainly true for us. A couple of vendors got out of the cold, people in need of food were fed, and Brent and I were encouraged by their smiles and thanks.
Let’s all let our lights shine as we look for the “hot tamale” opportunities in 2021!
