Four years ago, Hephzibah Home gained a hero. Joseph Robinson joined the Hephzibah team as the head chef at the home, from a job with greater responsibility and more staff to manage. When he learned about the chef opening at Hephzibah Home, and that he would be cooking for children who had been the victims of abuse and neglect, the answer was clear. He had to say yes, no matter what.
Today, Joseph says he can’t imagine working anywhere else. He always takes time to make each child feel special, learning their favorite foods and involving them with his cooking. He regularly introduces them to new foods like shrimp and grits, tilapia and apple pancakes. According to Joseph, it’s important to build trust with the children and food is a way to communicate that you care about them. Joseph knows that for many of these kids, food insecurity was a reality and it has a special meaning for the children. In short: food means love.
Joseph also sees his cooking as a unique opportunity to engage and connect with the kids while teaching them important lessons about nutrition and food safety. The “Cooking with Joe” program was born out of Joseph’s unique vision of helping the kids heal through food. Each week, a child gets the chance to put on an apron and prepare their favorite meal with Joseph, while he teaches them valuable cooking and kitchen safety skills. He even takes them shopping for ingredients, teaching them basic rules of how to interact with others. They then share the meal with Joseph at a special dining table, and they love this time with him.
Often, Joseph will receive a special gift from the kids, such as a small toy or a necklace they’ve made. He proudly wears and shows off these gifts while he cooks with them, leaving them beaming with pride and joy. It’s evident these kids mean the world to Joseph, and he means the world to them.