On December 11, Gather On Main was going to be “the” spot.
Jack Blackburn was going to channel his inner (and outer) Santa Claus. Caris Williams was coming in with her cameras and personal business, Barefeet Photography, out of Kuttawa. Cathy Lewis, her immediate family and her restaurant family were all ready for the holidays.
It was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.
Plans changed, however, less than 12 hours before festivities were set to begin — when, on December 10, an EF4 tornado toppled homes, ruined roads and pummeled Princeton with unprecedented strength.
The Lewis family, their restaurant and their staff missed most, if not all, the damage done. But some close friends and neighboring counties did not. Everyone wanted to help.
Overwhelmed, Lewis and her staff shifted their Saturday focus into new efforts — helping with immediate recovery in local neighborhoods.
By late Saturday afternoon, she started receiving phone calls from World Central Kitchen — asking if she and her restaurant could serve as a food portal and culinary centrifuge for west Kentucky.
As it turns out, Williams — also a native of Cookeville, Tennessee and graduate of Austin Peay in Clarksville — had a personal connection with a world-wide organization that since 2010, under the creation of Chef José Andrés and his wife Patricia, has marched to the frontlines of humanitarian, climate and community disasters to build “resilient” food systems for workers and victims alike.
To understand their most recent success, one must look no further than Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos and his recent $100 million grant donation to World Central Kitchen, as well as Andrés’ recent appearance on Top Chef: Portland — urging contestants to challenge themselves while serving first responders hot, tasty and healthy meals during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon.
For Lewis and her family to get this phone call isn’t just some “a big deal.” It’s a Christmas miracle.
Andrés, himself, landed in Graves County and its ransacked county seat, Mayfield, soon after the storms — further validating with his own eyes the need to feed those who simply could not do it themselves.
For the last couple of weeks, Gather On Main and its executive chef — Caldwell County High School Class of 2003 graduate Josh Cook — have been preparing meals that have been sent out through unique channels like the National Guard, FEMA and the American Red Cross.
Lewis noted these are atypical paths during a crisis, and that World Central Kitchen representatives have not only helped with the process financially, but physically — using their connections for positive outreach, where a small restaurant might not have as much access.
With Princeton on the mend, Gather On Main will resume sending meals out to Dawson Springs and southern Hopkins County by the end of this week — while World Central Kitchen turns its attention to other embattled fronts.
Another miracle sprung from this, too.
Blackburn and his wife, Patti, had originally told Lewis they weren’t going to be able to make it on December 11 not because of their home wreckage — but because Jack’s beloved Santa suit was missing in the storm’s wake.
Two days later, the Blackburns had messaged Lewis again. The suit was found unscathed.
For now, Gather On Main will continue its connection with World Central Kitchen. Lewis has no inclination on when that partnership will end, mostly because Dawson Springs still needs so much help and support.
Gather On Main is located at 106 East Main Street in Princeton.
