Giving Thanks is a Weekly Event at this Community Kitchen   

Antonio Jamison and friends feed the soul of a Coconut Grove community with their weekly Kitchen Ministry. “What keeps me going is the smile on people’s faces,” Jamison says.

Each Sunday, Antonio “Tony” Jamison begins his day at 6 a.m., prepping meals in the kitchen of his Coconut Grove home on Percival Avenue. 

The aroma of seasoned salmon, jerk chicken, and freshly baked cornbread filled the air on a recent Sunday as Jamison’s backyard became a gathering space for the community.

By 2 p.m., a crowd of people had lined up neatly along the side of Jamison’s doorstep, under the shade of leafy trees, while Tony and his team served hot meals to familiar faces and new guests alike.

After years of feeding friends and neighbors from his home, Jamison has transformed a family tradition into a community lifeline. 

Kitchen Ministry, a weekly labor of love run by Jamison and a close-knit group of friends, serves free meals to anyone who turns up – no questions asked.

“I just always feel that people should have a good meal on Sunday,” Jamison told the Spotlight. “I just want everybody to feel like they’re loved.” 

Jamison’s love of cooking started in his grandmother’s kitchen, where Sunday dinners were a cherished family tradition.

“I come from a large family. I was always used to cooking big, and I grew up with my grandmother and my mom, who were great cooks,” Jamison said. “They taught me everything I know.”

Cooking big now means serving between 40 and 70 people every week as part of the Kitchen Ministry. The effort started off small with about a dozen people, Jamison said. 

“And then, people started asking me, ‘Hey, can I come by and eat on Sunday? How much do I owe you?’ And I’m like, ‘nothing.’ This is for the community.”

The weekly endeavor is supported by Club 1700, a group of friends that includes Jamison and that’s named for the 17 years of friendship they share. 

“They believe in my vision,” Jamison said of his friends, many of whom donate their own time and resources to help. “It’s priceless because they’re giving from the heart with no expectation of anything in return.”

At 44 years old, Jamison works from home as an entrepreneur and hairstylist. He funds the ministry with the tips he receives on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He normally spends between $300 and $400 each week to ensure that everyone gets a quality meal.

For those attending, the meals are memorable, with dishes that include salmon, jerk chicken, crab, rice, asparagus, and Jamison’s specialty cornbread.

The impact of Kitchen Ministry resonates far beyond Jamison’s backyard. Kimberly Davis, co-founder of the Coconut Grove Optimist Club, sees the ministry as a symbol of the community’s enduring spirit. 

“It just touched me that they were doing this for no financial benefit,” Davis said. “There’s still a heartbeat in Coconut Grove, and it’s bigger than the gentrification” that has changed the look and feel of Jamison’s West Grove neighborhood.

Latonya Henley, 54, has known Jamison for over 30 years and has been supporting his kitchen ministry since its inception.

“Tony’s always been a giving person,” said Henley, a resident of North Miami. “Every day, he goes the extra mile. There are two homeless boys from Detroit who come here regularly that don’t eat meat, and he even makes special veggie meals for them.” 

Henley brings her granddaughter each Sunday to help hand out meals, hoping to inspire the next generation. “I want to show them it’s okay to give and that it’s wonderful to help people while not expecting anything in exchange,” she said.

Gloria Williams, 63, a friend of Tony’s mom who’s known as ‘Mada’ in the community, has seen Tony’s generosity first hand since he was a child. 

“Everybody in this community knows that about him,” Williams said.  

For many, Jamison’s meals provide more than just nourishment.

“What Tony does speaks to me. He’s always there and helpful,” said Jerchelle Robertson, 20, one of the attendees on a recent Sunday.

Gary Coleman, 58, a retired professor who has been coming to Jamison’s for about a year, sees the ministry as a rare expression of selflessness. 

“Tony is charitable,” he said. “If we didn’t have people who think of others before themselves, then the word charity wouldn’t exist.” 

Jamison’s vision for the Kitchen Ministry extends beyond the weekly feedings. “The sky’s the limit,” he said. “Wherever this goes, it’s going to go because my heart desires to see people happy. My vision is much bigger than my little kitchen.” 

This Thanksgiving, Jamison is taking his mission to the next level, organizing a special event with tables set up in his backyard to create a festive atmosphere. The gathering will feature his signature dishes as well as an assortment of differently prepared turkeys.

Kitchen Ministry not only serves as a way for Jamison and the Club 1700 to give back, it’s a reminder of their call to a greater service. 

“We just really have to spread the love. We know that we’re put on this earth for a purpose, and we need to fulfill our purpose, whatever it is, and until much is given, much is required.”