History and Goals of the Meal Coupon Program

In the Spring of 1989, Sisters Of The Road launched our Meal Coupon Project. The project was developed with two goals in mind: 

1. As a fundraiser for the Cafe (to help supplement our costs in meal production) – and,
2. As a way for citizens in our community to respond to panhandlers in a positive manner.

At Sisters Of The Road, we believe that all persons are sacred. Daily we disarm dehumanizing behavior with hospitality and through building authentic relationship with one another.  What do these words mean?

DEHUMANIZATION: To be abused by language or physical lashing out directed at our personhood, to be treated as less than because of the color of our skin, to be cast in roles that are hurtful and limit us as women and men, to be discounted because of our age, to be treated differently because we are poor, to be stuck in myths that dictate we can only, touch, hold, tell secrets to, share dreams or take risks with certain people; meaning that all of us get left out of a share in these basic human needs.

HOSPITALITY: To treat strangers with love, to see ourselves in the men, women, and children who come in to the Cafe and see them in ourselves, to find the common places we all share, to invite laughter, story-telling, and discussion that breaks down barriers and gets people involved with one another.