Robert is one of our smiling servers at the Pearl Street Café, but when his apron is off, he's also a client who is happy to eat here for free.
Robert lives in subsidized housing through the South Middlesex Opportunity Council in Framingham and works as a sneaker salesman part time. His income isn't enough to cover rent, food and other living expenses, so he relies on food stamps and our meal program.
"I love the hot meals," he says. "A nice hot dinner never goes unappreciated. I always eat everything on my plate.”
Robert's favorites are Chef Vicki Cataldo's chicken dishes, her mac and cheese with peppers, and best of all, the homemade tuna casserole that reminds him of eating Tuna Noodle Helper when he was a kid.
Robert used to live with his grandparents in California. When they moved into an assisted living facility, he moved to Massachusetts to be near his best friend, but he was homeless at first.
"My uncle paid for my plane ticket to get out here," he said.
Robert stayed in a shelter for three months and once he was able to find work, he got into a rooming house. He'd like to live on his own someday, and have the freedom to get a pet, like a cat or a dog, but it's not in the cards right now.
"This is me trying to get by on my own," Robert said recently while eating lunch in our café. "I’m grateful for what it is, but I would love to have my own apartment."
Robert recently had his hours reduced at work, which meant a cut in pay. He said his employer hired additional employees, which, on the one hand took some of the high workload off of Robert, but it also meant he lost hours as a result. "Losing all that money is a big hit," he said.
"I make minimum wage, and I get only like $100 or so for food stamps a month so it’s hard," Robert said.
While he doesn't earn much money, he says it's OK and he sends some of it "to people who need it more than me."
That same spirit of generosity led Chef Vicki to collect money last fall and surprise Robert with a plane ticket to fly back to California and visit his grandparents and sister and her family. "It meant so much to me," Robert said.
He has found a new family here at the café, where he volunteers on Thursday nights. Robert says serving dinner to those like him, who are needing a meal or companionship, is meaningful.
"I just like giving back to my community," he said. "I like to help."
Robert is our guest as often as his schedule allows. He likes to come and sit down to eat a cold bagged lunch, instead of taking it to go. "That was a really good buffalo chicken sandwich," he said after recently finishing one up. His biggest vice is soda, so he also enjoyed a Pepsi that day, along with chips and a mini chocolate éclair pie.
Robert usually works opening shift, so he misses out on our breakfasts. "If not, I sleep in when I can."
He has bigger dreams than what he currently does, selling sneakers in a department store at the Natick Mall.
Robert wants to take community college classes and eventually work with kids at a program like the YMCA or the Boys and Girls Club to "guide the minds of tomorrow" and help mold them into leaders.
