Red Beans & Ricely Yours
Serving a Meal When it Matters Most
Words by Sam Lauron Photos by Shelby Bella
Every Sunday morning since mid-April, Maris Clegg and Chris Cubas wake up early, fire up the stove, and cook large batches of red beans and rice in their East Austin home. But these hearty servings of comfort food aren’t for them to consume; the dish is instead packaged up and delivered, along with fruit, a baked good, and a drink, to locals in need of a meal.
At the onset of the pandemic, Maris and Chris wanted to help out their community, especially those who lost their job and were financially insecure, but they weren’t sure how. That is until Maris, who’s from New Orleans, found inspiration in her weekly cooking routine.
“Before COVID, I would make red beans and rice on my day off and would eat leftovers throughout the week,” she recalls. “So I thought, maybe a homemade meal would be nice [for others].”
For their first attempt at what is now Red Beans and Ricely Yours, they had a goal of providing 22 free meals. While they were admittedly not prepared for the full day and night they spent cooking and delivering everything themselves, Maris and Chris have now established more efficient processes and leaned on the invaluable support from the community. In addition to the responses from those in need of a meal, the pair have received an overwhelming response from locals willing to help with the initiative.
Nearly five months since they cooked their first batch, Red Beans and Ricely Yours now has a network of volunteers who help out with everything from making deliveries to baking the sides that are included with the 44 meals Maris and Chris prepare each week. Thanks, in part, to the community’s support, Red Beans and Ricely Yours recently hit a major milestone for their homegrown operation: delivering their 600th meal.
While the weekly initiative has undoubtedly brought comfort, security, and joy to those receiving the home-cooked meal, the routine has also helped Maris and Chris get through this challenging time by allowing them to focus their energy on a cause for which they care deeply.
“It’s been cool to feel connected to the city when you are so disconnected and kind of isolated [at home],” Maris says. Chris adds, “[Food] is something everyone needs, but it’s also something that everyone derives comfort from.”
As for the duration of Red Beans and Ricely Yours, Chris states that “as long as people need a meal, we’re going to try to give it to them.”
How it works
Red Beans and Ricely Yours delivers 44 free meals every Sunday to anyone in the Austin area. Each meal comes with a serving of red beans, rice, and sausage, as well as a baked good, Rambler sparkling water, and an orange. If you or someone you know is interested in receiving a meal, the anonymous signup sheet is posted on Facebook and Instagram every Tuesday at noon and closes when they reach capacity. If you’d like to volunteer as a driver or are interested in contributing monetary or food donations, contact Maris and Chris at redbeansaustin@gmail.com.
Contact:
redbeansaustin@gmail.com
@redbeansaustin
