Russ Mabardy has given us almost three years of wonderful cooking and wonderful good cheer.
But that’s a drop in the bucket of all he’s done to help people move on from homelessness.
Foot care is a huge need among homeless people. They’re often walking long distances in wet socks or ill-fitting shoes. Or no shoes at all. And when Russ was practicing and teaching podiatry, he’d take students to a shelter in Richmond to offer free care. “You see a lot of infections, simple problems that can get much worse if left untreated. My students had a great experience and a lot of people got the care they needed. It was a win/win experience,” Russ says.
While volunteering at the Richmond Shelter, Russ met a resident who had recently lost her job. Her employer hadn’t been able to provide accommodations for her disability.
Russ hired her to work in his front office. “She was a great asset. She worked with me for two years,” he says. “When you saw her, you would have never guessed what her journey had been. It shows what’s possible with a little support.”
He lived in Marin and he got involved there, too, cooking for a shelter program.
After retiring and moving to Petaluma, Russ joined the kitchen team at Mary’s Table. It was after the 2017 fires and he was searching for a way to make a difference.
“I get more out of it than I give,” he says. “I enjoy the cooking and the creative process in the kitchen. We put out some amazing meals.”
And what chef doesn’t like compliments from diners?
“Most of them are really grateful and they’ll say, ‘Who made this?’ or ‘I really liked that.’ That means a lot. I get a lot of rewards.” To date, Russ’ pulled pork has garnered the best reviews.
He’s enjoyed learning on the job, broadening his repertoire. “I cook everything from soup to nuts,” Russ says, “but I learn new things all the time in the kitchen.” From former chef Derrick Ng, he learned to be liberal with spices. Our current chef Janin Harmon taught him the finer points of a perfectly cubed mire poix.
And clients who volunteer in the kitchen teach him things all the time. “For me, it’s a critical piece [that clients are volunteering]” Russ says. “It shows they feel invested in the process.”
“I’ve seen some guys come through who are real chefs and cooks. It’s a pleasure to work alongside them.”
COTS liaison with volunteers is Diana Morales. She loves that Russ is “interested in COTS as an organization, not just the part he plays. He’s very friendly with the other volunteers and he’s great with the clients,” she says.
“When he’s serving, he is so kind,” says Diana. “He remembers the clients, he remembers what they talked about and he shows an interest in who they are. That’s so important.”
Outside of COTS, Russ dotes on his children and grandchildren–all of whom amaze him with their smarts, their talents and their energy. He cooks, of course, and he gardens. He’s also active in a spiritual community, a drumming circle and a hiking group.
His advice for people considering volunteering: “They should do it. They’ll gain gratitude, they’ll gain compassion. You get a sense that we’re all in this together.”
Not a cook? Not to worry. “COTS is a big organization,” Russ says. There’s something there for everyone.”
Thank you, Russ!
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