A version of this post originally appeared on the West Belmont Place website, and is used here with permission.
Executive Chef Chris Ferrier of the West Belmont Place Event Center in Leesburg, Virginia, opened his kitchen to volunteers from Prison Fellowship for the baking of 50 dozen chocolate chip cookies. The cookies were part of 1,200 cookies delivered by Prison Fellowship to prisoners in Richmond, Virginia, on April 28.
Chef Ferrier donated the ingredients, his time, and space in the kitchen. Joining him were Paula Lynn Safran, director of catering sales at West Belmont Place; Jim Heigl of Prison Fellowship; Lonnie and Pam Gaddy from Church of The Holy Spirit in Leesburg; and Prison Fellowship volunteers Tanie and Jacqueline Guy.
It all began when Lonnie, Paula, and West Belmont Place’s catering team were meeting to discuss an upcoming Leadership in Ministry Retreat. Lonnie mentioned, “I won’t be on the call next Thursday; I am going to prison.” When the room went silent, he laughed and clarified, “I will be going to Richmond along with Prison Fellowship to deliver the Gospel and cookies to the prison residents.”
Cookies are one of the few food items allowed to be brought into prisons, Lonnie said, and the ingredients are strictly regulated. When the catering staff asked where he gets the cookies, Lonnie explained that churches all over Loudoun County bake and donate them. He said that he was in charge of 100 dozen, and only needed 50 dozen more—so he was going home to start baking.
Without hesitation, the catering team said, “Consider it done, 50 dozen cookies on the way!” One call to Executive Chef Ferrier and the mission was accomplished. Chef Ferrier would serve over 3,000 meals that Wednesday, but was quoted as saying, “We are never too busy to serve those who are serving our community.”
“Prison Fellowship has a long-standing relationship with the National Conference Center, and we are honored to be able to assist them as they go into the prisons, offering fellowship and comfort through the cookie program,” says Denise Benoit, writing for the West Belmont Place website. “West Belmont Place at The National is proud to be a supporter of Prison Fellowship and the work they do.”