For 25 years, GRuB has grown because people have shown up in many kinds of ways, including growing food, cooking meals, building gardens, washing dishes, planning celebrations, and showing up! Bob and Mary Wildenhaus have been a part of that story from some of GRuB’s earliest days. They first connected with Kim and Blue (co-founders of GRuB) through a garden project at St. Francis House, and over the years their volunteer roles grew right alongside GRuB. Here, they remember the early days, the young people they cooked alongside, and why they kept coming back.
Bob remembers:
When I first met Kim and Blue, I couldn’t believe that such young people could be so committed to growing food for others. First they asked if they could build a garden for the residents at St. Francis home which I was administering at the time. I helped get funding for them, and they built it! I was impressed with their imagination and skill at constructing a garden that was both attractive and so perfect for senior residents, some of whom had disabilities. When finished, the small garden beds were quickly claimed by those who lived at St. Francis home.
From there, my wife and I helped with cooking and various tasks at the old building which served as GRuB’s headquarters for staff and youth. Those were fun times. I remember watching out for loose boards on the floor lest a foot would go through. We continued volunteering as the new building went up and the staff grew. Who knew this fledgling venture would survive and blossom for these years.
Mary remembers:
I especially enjoyed preparing lunch with the youth. Bob usually managed the stove cooking, always with a young person or two eager to try their hand at making the soup or stew or whatever was on the day’s menu. I led the sous chef and baking team. It was so heart-warming to see the youth grow in confidence as they worked alongside us. Always, we saw GRuB’s values of respect, inclusion, and kindness both in staff and youth.
These values have kept me volunteering for years— on the graduation prep team, on the Soirée planning and implementation team, and finally by laundering the tablecloths and napkins for countless events. I loved being part of the U in GRuB.
