From February 3-10, United Saints Recovery Project volunteers were treated to a week’s worth of dinners and desserts by Chef Jeff Selvig of Peoria, Illinois. Far from taking a typical vacation in New Orleans, Chef Jeff worked full days using two very different sets of tools: a spatula for the kitchen and a hammer to rebuild homes. By bringing attention to our work, Jeff helped United Saints raise nearly $1,000 in Home Depot gift cards.

Everyone at United Saints and in our community would like to thank Chef Jeff for his generous loan of time and culinary skills.

We would also like to thank the individuals at Peoria’s Hotel Pere Marquette and beyond who supported Selvig’s visit with donated food and airfare.

For those who were unable to enjoy Selvig’s cuisine, volunteers emphasize that it was an extreme upgrade over their typical ramen noodle diet. Following hard days of painting and construction, thirty volunteers were delighted to eat delicious, well-balanced meals that included oysters Rockefeller, meatloaf, mac n’ cheese, colorful pastas and salads, bread pudding, and trés leches cake.

Chef Jeff came to serve at United Saints because he wanted to do more than just give money to organizations this year. He explained that “if you want to get somewhere or get anything in life, you have to give in order to receive.”

Long term volunteer Curran Dwyer summed up his gratitude for this giving spirit by calling Chef Jeff “a guy who has an awareness of charity and community service. He’s volunteering for volunteers. Normally, we’re the ones helping out and not getting compensated, but here you have a guy coming down to New Orleans to make us food, and it made my week.”