Central Florida’s artistic community got a boost on Tuesday when 275 meals were handed out during an event designed to raise spirits as much as offer food assistance.
“I was so touched,” said Kate Garnes, who performs at Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World. “It meant so much to me that this was for artists.”
Feed the Need Florida and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in southwest Orlando teamed with community leaders to offer the free food — and encouraging words — during a two-hour drive-through event on Tuesday. The distribution will continue, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. each Tuesday at the church, for the foreseeable future.
“We’d love to keep going as long as the demand is there,” said Sara Elliott, executive director of 4Roots, the nonprofit foundation created by 4 Rivers Smokehouse owner John Rivers. A collaboration between 4Roots and 4 Rivers, Feed the Need Florida has mainly helped families of schoolchildren receiving food assistance.
But with theme parks, theaters, museums and other entertainment venues closed, many who work in that industry have gone weeks without income. More than 8,000 arts workers have lost work in the nonprofit section alone, Feed The Need said, using numbers reported by United Arts of Central Florida.
“With humor I’m trying to hold it all together like a mother hen, but it’s hard,” said Tamula Browning Helmuth, whose work in cruise-ship entertainment dried up more than two months ago. Her husband, a rigging technician at Walt Disney World, has been furloughed, and the couple has two children.
When St. Luke’s staff reached out to Feed the Need, the organization didn’t hesitate.
“We right away realized, ‘Yes of course, this is a community where there’s already a lot of need, and unfortunately it’s going to increase,'” Elliott said.
For the church, which has thriving theater and music programs, the food distribution aligned with its mission.
“We consider this group and their colleagues part of our church family,” said the Rev. Jennifer Stiles Williams, St. Luke’s lead pastor. “Feed the Need Florida and our collaborative partners are extending St. Luke’s core values of community, hospitality and service to help us provide support at a critical time.”
Open to actors, technicians, musicians, costumers, managers, theme-park character performers and anyone who works in entertainment, participants were greeted Tuesday by colorful signs proclaiming “The arts feed the soul” and “We ain’t done because the fat lady ain’t sung.”
Pianists played, and volunteers applauded as people drove up.
“It really drove home to me that they understand the power that art provides,” said Katie Whetsell, a furloughed Disney performer. She was looking forward to cooking with fresh produce because, like Garnes, her recent meals have been planned around “conserving costs.”
Tuesday’s meals, prepared by 4 Rivers, included pulled pork over rice. Bags of fresh produce, with zucchini, carrots, potatoes and watermelon, also were handed out by mask-wearing volunteers. The food in future weeks will depend on what’s available from partner farmers, Elliott said.
Helmuth, who has served meals at other food-distribution programs, said she hoped pride — instilled by the tough-it-out, show-must-go-on mentality of showbiz — wouldn’t keep people from participating.
“It’s humbling, but it’s OK to get served,” she said. “It’s OK to allocate yourself a break.”
For Garnes, the food provided a boost to her mental health.
“During this, it’s hard to remember that we matter,” she said. “Often, no one really thinks to thank the people who take them away from the problems of the world.”
But in a statement, Rivers said that was exactly the point of the program.
“Right now in our very own backyard, there is a great need to support and bless those who have devoted their lives to enriching us through various forms of art,” he said. “Now, it’s our turn to help them.”
Find me on Twitter @matt_on_arts or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more news of theater and other arts? Go to orlandosentinel.com/arts
