By George Capsis
“George, Nicky Perry here.” In her British East End accent, Nicky of Tea and Sympathy (108 Greenwich Avenue, near West 13th Street) left a message that she had stumbled onto a concept of charitable wisdom that awed her with its universal rightness. The idea was to ask West Villagers to invite a neighbor, or just somebody they know that never dines out because he/she is too poor or too isolated, and the neighbor’s meal is on Nicky.
More than that, Nicky wants this concept to be adopted by other restaurants in the West Village, the City, the country, the world—‘Dinner for One More.’
We all know a little old lady down the hall full of cheery greetings who never goes out except to pursue her escaped cat. Invite her as your guest for Dinner for One More and hear the story of her life.
And the widower next door with whom you exchange comments on the weather. Invite him to dinner to hear stories of his triumph in the corporate world—Dinner for One More.
West Village seniors trying to make rent and going to the Greenwich House for free meals and eating alone, glancing around in the hopes of catching a familiar face, can call a slightly more affluent neighbor and offer to join his/her Friday night out—Dinner for One More.
Having a meal with another (breaking bread) is an accepting event during which the satiation of hunger opens positive reception. This allows us to give of ourselves—Dinner for One More.
If you like this idea and can add to it, email your comments to gcapsis@gmail.com.
