West Linn chef cooks for those in need

Amy Nakano makes and delivers home cooked meals. Her walking group is helping out by donating ingredients and uplifting letters

When West Linn Adult Community Center (ACC) volunteer Amy Nakano received an email that the ACC would close March 16, she was immediately concerned about one thing: what would happen to those who rely on meals served by the ACC?

"I called people personally and I asked the center if I could make an announcement at the very last lunch, which was the next day, so I went and I just let people know that I had a cafe and bakery and had catered and worked at restaurants in the past and that I had a food handler's card and a new kitchen that I could keep sterile," Nakano said. "And I let them know that I would be cooking meals and happy to deliver them if anyone would like."

Since the ACC closed last month to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Nakano, a gerontologist by trade who also teaches cooking classes, has delivered meals for nine people at four different homes in West Linn.

Initially, she intended to just cover lunch, but she now brings food for lunch, dinner and breakfast the next morning. At the end of the week, she'll bring extra to get residents through the weekend as well.

A generous group of donors, mostly consisting of Nakano's walking group, keep her supplied with ingredients.

Nakano said when she came up with the idea to cook and deliver food to people in need, she sent out a text to the West Linn Walkers asking for help sourcing food, and the group did not disappoint.

One woman is in charge of bread, another brings gluten-free ingredients and another provides oranges, Nakano said.

Nakano said the recipients — several seniors and a family with two kids and two working parents — are incredibly thankful for her efforts.

"The reaction I'm getting is that they don't understand why they got to be so lucky, is what they say," she said.

They rave about her various dishes, especially the taco soup, she said.

"Initially they were saying, 'We're OK. We don't want to take food from other people,' but now they're to a point where I let them know they're not taking anything from anyone," Nakano said. "This is something positive for people who are shut in. People can donate and know that they did something for that day."

Nakano said cooking for others in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is even more work than running her cafe because of all the extra precautions she's taking.

"Everything is so carefully handled. I wash all the vegetables. I wash all the groceries when they come into my house," she said. "I'm exhausted, but I can't not do it because these people are at the point where now it's been two weeks; one woman went through most everything in her pantry."

According to Nakano, that 86-year-old woman won't sign up to receive regular deliveries, but, if Nakano calls to say she has extra food, the woman will agree to accept it.

Now, Nakano is bringing these people more than just food. She brings letters, flowers and craft projects as well. Nakano said she thought it would be great if some of the walkers in the group could write letters to the people she delivers to.

"I put out that text and I ended up with a vase full of flowers and all kinds of letters," she said. "It's given a purpose to all of us."

Nakano has family members working in healthcare and if she weren't cooking and delivering meals for others, she would worry too much about her family.

"As exhausted as I am, if I weren't doing this, I would think too much and I think I would lose my mind," she said.