Tables were full at Poverello House, which serves people experiencing homelessness in Fresno, California. Although the nonprofit provides hot meals three times a day to anyone in need, every few months they would do something special, offering a chef-prepared menu, including cuisine like salmon and steak, and had servers wait on the guests.
At the end of this particular night of dining, a woman came up to Zack Darrah, Poverello House chief executive officer, and handed him a note before walking away.
Thanks. It’s nice to feel normal, the humble note said.
Wow, Zack thought, his heart moved. Feeling a call from God, he realized, We should step up and do this all the time.
Loving tradition
Courtesy of Zack Darrah
After facing many challenges, like updating the old kitchen with $2.7 million in raised funds and the COVID-19 pandemic, in January of 2024, Zack opened Papa Mike’s Café to serve free restaurant-style meals to people in need in the community.