Amid the chaos, I’ve been thinking a lot about what Mr. Rogers said: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” So I did just that. And I found them in Harlem, feeding body and soul. This is the story of Refettorio Harlem

At Refettorio Harlem, everyone is treated to a gourmet three-course meal surrounded by art and beauty. As one person told me, this place can make the overwhelming challenges of food insecurity, waste and loneliness “feel a little lighter,” as if “it’s possible to have change.”

A dinner guest who was there with her little girl told me that while she gets many of her meals at churches, there’s nothing that comes even remotely close to what Refettorio provides. At Refettorio, “people love my baby, they love me,” she said. “It has to do with respect.”

Refettorio Harlem almost entirely funded by private donations and run by mostly volunteers. “Harlem takes care of Harlem” was the vibe I got, and it was tender, kind and empathetic. No one gets turned away