Food For Thought and investing in people

Posted Jan 19, 2012 By Doreen Barnes

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EMC News - Some people have good ideas but never act upon them. As for entrepreneur Moira Taylor, she is taking her life skills to help others through Food For Thought Catering Service.

"Food for Thought Catering Service is my business that I created almost 14 years ago," says Taylor. "I have been involved in the Maitland community for many years and I decided it was time to create something of my own, a business, which I did. I'm a believer and through prayer a thought came to me, Food for Thought."

Being well-known in the community, it didn't take long for the catering company to take off and continues into her 14th year.

"Since catering is a luxury item, things are slow this year," says Taylor. "So I wanted to use those skills and others that I have. Recently whenever I open a newspaper, it was about a teen suicide, poverty, and lack of work with people unemployed. I decided to combine all these talents that I believe God has given me. I need to be reaching out to people. So I took a course and got my accreditation in NLP, (neuro-linguistic programming), life coach counselling and I also received my ministerial licence."

The people Taylor wants to reach to are those who are using Loaves and Fishes, the food banks and Common Ground (The Pier Christian Church's Daily Community Outreach coffee and luncheon, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at 100 Strowger Boulevard, Brockville).

She approached these organizations to discuss her idea of investing in people and why she wanted to do this.

"It's not just about giving money or giving back," says Taylor. "It's about something bigger which is investing in people. So I said to them, I want you to find me two people from your organization who use it and what I'm going to do is work with these people. We are going to find out what their hidden gifts and talents are, because often times they don't know."

Taylor hopes to encourage and empower these individuals using their abilities to create a successful business or service that pays.

Jobs like painting, window washing, clerical work, artisan, sales associate and others, whatever it is that these individuals would like to do.

MONTHLY TEAS

Taylor is using her own skills to raise funds by holding themed monthly teas from 12 noon to 3 p.m., at the Maitland Educational and Recreational Hall, 120 East MacLean, Maitland.

"Any proceeds that come in go back into the organization," explains Taylor. "Why tea? Tea is a time when people sit down and commune. They get a chance to eat, there are sandwiches or quiche, sausage rolls, scones with preserves and pastries. People will get their worth for $11."

The teas are more of a lunch than just scones and tea or coffee.

So far two monthly teas have been well received with about 30 people attending each month, and there are plans for six more.

Taylor is using these six teas as a benchmark to determine whether the idea is working.

The next tea is on Sunday, Jan. 15, with a Chinese New Year theme and her catering staff, Kerry, Patty and Shaun volunteering their time to assist.

In addition to the tea, Taylor welcomes vendors on site selling their wares and giving a portion of the proceeds back to the cause.

She can be reached by email at taylors_1@bell.net.

"When I came up with this new venture," says Taylor, "I read this piece about Leeds and Grenville MPP Steve Clark and the Eastern Ontario Developmental Program. I thought millions of dollars to create jobs, that's what I'm trying to do. I contacted Steve's office and he wrote me a letter saying that there's a battle going on between the ministers, but he's on this and I'm going to be on him because I believe if we all communicate, we can do this."

Taylor feels that her initiative could become a model to be used elsewhere.

"I think Brockville could be a prime example to the rest of Canada," she says. "Food for Thought will be just that. If you believe in the scriptures, the very first thing that God said after he created man and woman was to prosper, be fruitful and multiply.

"But these people at the bottom of the heap are not prospering. That is not prosperity, but they can with a helping hand. So my goal is to get to the jails, the schools and to whoever I can."

Taylor also has another idea on which she is consulting with her son, to obtain his expertise.

"What if we could create some sort of certificate about people?" she asks. "You know when Tim Hortons offered stock on the stock market, people bought stocks of Tim Hortons. I want it (Food For Thought) on the stock market because it is about investing in people. The stocks rise and the dividends go back to the people."

Taylor made reference to the bartering system years ago whereas today there's the monetary system.

"You will get a return on your money which may not be a huge one," she explains. "The bigger benefit would be the people you are investing in. The people are the investment."

Taylor believes that investors will eventually see the benefit in the community, in their family and everywhere.

"I'm like a dog with a bone, I'm not going to let this go. There's nothing more important than people. Every human being has value. Individuals taking from food banks are under valued and don't recognize their worth. You can start today to invest in people with a smile or a hello. If you do not have the money to give, that's fine, but a smile is the same in every language. Just a smile can save someone's life."




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