BBQ at the Cathedral of the Madeleine provides variety of food and entertainment for homeless

Friday, Jun. 13, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Shayneh and Jason Starks have started a new tradition at the Cathedral of the Madeleine by hosting a barbecue on the last Sunday of the month for the homeless and poor who frequent the Good Samaritan Program, an ecumenical outreach housed at the cathedral that provides free sack lunches seven days a week. 

The first barbecue was held in May; they will continue through September. A volunteer musician, David Hahn of Deer Valley, will add to the picnic atmosphere.

“The beautiful music and liturgy for which the cathedral is well known makes no sense unless those most in need are cared for in some way,” said Father Martin Diaz, pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine. “I very much appreciate Shayneh and Jason Starks in their efforts to feed those in need. The once-a-month meal on the plaza couples their efforts with the cathedral’s Good Samaritan Program.”

 The intention is for one afternoon to have people in need get a meal that “others would get at a restaurant – one meal in a community setting outside in the sun; isn’t that what makes all of us happy?” said Shayneh.

“We have always had a soft spot for the Good Samaritan Program as many other parishioners of the cathedral do, because we see the people in need,” she continued. “The more we thought about how fortunate we are, the more we thought it’s just nice to be able to help others.”

The Starks remember when they themselves had hard times; they were building the mortuary and also volunteering at the Good Samaritan Program. “We felt after volunteering three hours we were justified to eat a bologna sandwich for dinner when we left,” Shayneh said, adding that the couple also ate a lot of ramen noodles and saltine crackers. “There is not a big difference from what separates us from the people who are hungry. Poverty can happen to anyone at any time.” 

The Starks’ chef on staff at the mortuary, Mike Richey, is one of Food & Wine magazine’s top 10 chefs in the Southwest; he has restaurants in San Francisco and New York, said Shayneh. 

“He is willing to cook for these barbecues,” added Jason.

It just made sense to the Starks to have the barbecues, they said. “While we hear that there is a need for donations and assistance to help the homeless, having the barbecues goes along with that,” said Jason. At the first event, “we served everything we had and made a run to the store for more.” 

The couple prepared enough burgers and bratwurst for 260 people and then purchased 50 more burgers. When that ran out, the chef made grilled cheese sandwiches using supplies from the Good Samaritan Program, said Shayneh. “We also cut up melons to go with the grilled cheese. It was nice and hard, at the same time,” she said.

It was a humbling experience for the Starks, said Jason. “Working the door of the Good Samaritan Program, you walk away amazed at how many people go without in such a nice, clean community,” he said. “It makes it easy to jump at the opportunity to help however we can.”

The people who volunteered at the first barbecue already have ideas about next time on how to make it better, the Starks said. 

“It really invigorated and inspired everybody who helped to keep it going; there seems to be a lot of interest in setting up, serving and cleaning up,” said Jason. “Everybody is getting on board to donate or help serve.”