Hot meals are prepared every Tuesday for about 125 homeless people in the hall’s kitchen. From catfish to sweet potatoes to wings and more, it’s all cooked by ten metro Detroit chefs who dedicate their time pro bono to “Love Only,” an in-house nonprofit founded by 60-year-old Ivory Graves, also the owner of TV Lounge .
“Savannah Blue, Petty Cash, Cutters…all these guys give us their chefs to make really good things that they make in their restaurants. But the bottom line is they need to eat like I eat,” Graves said.
When asked why he launched the nonprofit, Graves said, “My mom showed me how to do it. She would cook every day as if there were five people in the house, and I was the only child, and she would come into the house,” the salon and food distribution, and she thought it was marketing. But it wasn’t like that.”
Ivory’s mother, Jenny, died ten years ago. At the time, Jenny was running a hair salon called Directions.
It is now run by Ivory and is also a barbershop. Ivory says all of this, including “Just Love,” is one of many ways to honor his mother.
“If she were alive today, what do you think she would say?” Request 7 Business News.
“She would just fall in love with me. She loved it when she became a hairdresser. But when she saw ‘Only Love,’ she would cook there every day,” Graves said.
In fact, Graves also has a mural on the wall of the building honoring his mother.
“815, that’s my mom’s birthday. Those funny words over there say ‘Jenny,’ which means it’s her place,” Graves said.
Now, Graves is on a mission. To operate Only Love five days a week and feed up to 750 homeless people. To do this, Greaves needs additional funding to support the initiative.
Currently, “Love Only” is funded by TV Lounge profits. But Graves believes that with the help of the community, the kitchen can be expanded.
To donate and learn more about Just Love, click here.
(tags for translation) Ivory Tombs