After witnessing a young man steal food from a convenience store for his family in 2012, Melissa Morgan immediately began her mission to help feed community members living in poverty. Focusing on the corridor along Jefferson Davis Highway, Morgan and her husband worked from the back of their truck, delivering bread every Sunday to families living in various motels along Route 1. Soon thereafter, they began to distribute backpacks with school supplies as well, ever expanding their operation. Once she realized that “this was getting big,” Morgan moved her acts of kindness to a permanent location in November 2014, creating A Place of Miracles Café. The aptly-named restaurant is a true blessing to the area, providing a haven for community members in need. Of the café and her mission, Morgan says, “This is my heart.”
Located next to the America’s Best Value Inn off I-95 on Willis Road, the restaurant’s vibrantly painted exterior— cheerful blue siding and a welcoming pink front door—candidly indicates the hopeful atmosphere within. The infectious positivity, abundant goodwill, and optimistic message are not to be missed. From Tuesday to Friday, volunteers from local churches cook and serve hot dinners at 6 p.m., preparing a buffet for as few as 20 and as many as 80 people a day. Food is generously provided by the Chesterfield Food Bank and Kroger. Morgan describes Fridaynights as particularly special; bands perform and meals are provided by the Olive Garden in Colonial Heights. At the end of the evening, diners are also given to-go boxes. For Morgan, these evening meal times are “really beautiful, with everyone talking and sharing.”
The café, a large building able to hold up to 200 people, houses not only the restaurant but also a children’s play area, a stage, a coffee bar, a sweet shop, a gift shop, and a bookstore. Morgan and other volunteers also offer a wide variety of services. Several different methods of counseling are available for those in need to help with life issues. Morgan intends for these therapy sessions “to get to the root and touch individuals’ hearts, showing them hope.” She continues to distribute school materials for young students, remaining true to her original endeavors. Last year, volunteers provided 80 children with backpacks filled with school supplies. Additionally, the café hands out Totes for Tots, a week’s worth of breakfasts and lunches for children;hosts clothes distribution and haircuts a few times a year; and offers parenting skills classes, teaching grocery shopping and even canning.
Morgan explains that all meals and services are free of charge and that any received donations are used to help maintain the café. Visitors are under no pressure to pay and are asked to “give wherever they are financially.” Volunteers are always welcome to help at A Place of Miracles Café, each one a “blessing” in Morgan’s eyes.
Since the 2014 move-in, the roof and windows have been replaced and the walls have been repainted. Currently, the café’s floors are being remodeled. These renovations over the past two weeks have not greatly hindered meal distribution, however. To-go boxes have been offered instead. Construction should be completed by the weekend of July 30, just in time for a Caribbean-themed festival, hosting local vendors, food, and entertainment. For more information about A Place of Miracles Café, visit the webpage, http://aplaceofmiraclescafe.com/, or the restaurant’s Facebook page.
