Chow Down: Free Eats Project

A MOTHER AND SON DUO SHOW LOVE THROUGH FEEDING THE COMMUNITY

BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST

“I think sharing whatever one might have to offer to one’s community is ingrained in my culture, both ancestral, as a Black biracial woman, and proximal, as an Alabamian. I love to cook and I love to feed people,” says Amber Pollard–who founded the Free Eats Project in Boise with her son, George. “Pre-pandemic we would often host elaborate dinner parties and potlucks; Our house had an open door policy. If you were hungry and you showed up at my door at supper time, you ate,” she says.

The project, which has been forming in Pollard’s mind for years, seeks to show love and community through food. That’s something she says she immediately missed when Covid-19 halted dinner parties and visits with friends. “Not being able to feed people–to show them how much I love them with food–really motivated the formation of Free Eats Project,” she says.

With her son, Pollard feeds around 70 people a week, a number that keeps growing. The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. People are eager to help, offering everything from monetary donations to food donations (including Doug Martsch, of Built to Spill, who hosted an online fundraiser) and donations of kitchen items.

Pollards says she and her son, who has been baking since seventh grade, have never been closer. “It’s not uncommon for me to spend the entire day in the kitchen on a Saturday. Whether it’s fixing up an elaborate meal or just organizing the cabinets. Now I get to spend the entire day in the kitchen with George and instead of cleaning or organizing we’re cooking for 70 people,” Pollard says.

Amber and George’s vegan dishes get rave reviews. George’s brownie recipe is a popular request.

Once a week, the mother and son duo craft a delicious vegan menu. Their Instagram is filled with rave reviews and mouthwatering pictures. “Each week we receive feedback from folks who say, ‘this meal was the best meal yet,’ or ‘this week’s meal was perfect,’ and then the next week we receive the same feedback, so it’s hard to tell what the biggest hit has been so far,” Pollard says. “I will tell you though, people won’t stop asking for George’s brownie recipe, so maybe that’s the biggest hit,” she adds.

Pollard hopes the Free Eats Project will grow into a nonprofit with a small commercial kitchen space that can feed people for free on a daily basis. For now, she and George offer food for pickup on Sunday evenings, prioritizing food insecure folks and BIPOC community members, although there is often enough to feed anyone who wants to eat.

CREATIVITY

I am not a talented artist, so when school projects called for a visual component I would often bake cakes and such instead of putting together a poster. I learned to bake from science projects.

-George

To sign up or learn how you can help, visit @FreeEatsProject on Instagram.