A meal that restores dignity: In conversation with Marek
Marek is a vendor of Nový prostor magazine at the Nemocnice Motol metro station. “Sales are good, I almost always sell everything,” he says. He’s been involved in the project for several years now, and his work ethic is exemplary. He sells five, sometimes even seven days a week. “When it’s warm, it’s fine. Winter is worse. That’s when your whole body aches, standing in one spot for four or five hours.”
It was precisely for people like Marek that “Lunch for Another” was created in 2015. “Guests and regulars can purchase a voucher for 90 CZK at selected restaurants or on the Ambiente e-shop, and we then pass it on to the organisations we partner with. They then distribute the vouchers to their clients at their discretion,” explains Lucie Svobodová, who is responsible for connecting Ambiente restaurants with nonprofit organisations.
The favourite spots
At Nový prostor, however, meal vouchers aren’t just handed out. Instead, they serve as a motivational tool. “We use the card as a reward. It’s given to those who responsibly fulfil their duties, or to vendors in our Bonus Club,” explains Monika Dvořáková, editor-in-chief of Nový prostor. Marek confirms this: “Right now, the system is set up so that for every ten magazines sold, we get one card for Ambiente.”
However, the organisation also donates a large portion of the vouchers to new vendors who are in the greatest social need. Newcomers usually receive five to six vouchers per month, while other vendors receive two to three. “We allocate the remaining cards based on need. We hold incentive contests through which we distribute the cards, and of course we also give them to vendors whom we know are in financial distress and haven’t made ends meet,” adds Dvořáková.
Thanks to this, Marek is able to visit Lokál two to three times a week. Most often, he goes to Jirát, Dlouhááá, or Korunní. “I feel comfortable there. The staff are really great, they’re friendly and nice. That’s important, because if I were a waiter, I probably wouldn’t be that friendly,” Marek laughs over his plate of beef. After a moment, though, he confides in me that he hasn’t had a hot lunch in two days, so I let him finish his meal in peace.
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Dreams of college and graduation
Marek is from Olomouc, and his life journey hasn’t been easy. He’s a trained sales clerk, currently lives in a dorm, and relies on the food bank for assistance. Yet he hasn’t lost his ambition. “I’d like to finish my high school diploma, even though it would be incredibly stressful for me. Then maybe I’d apply to the Technical University of Ostrava. I’m interested in economics,” he says. But then his eyes light up when he mentions his biggest dream: “Or I’d like to become a train conductor.”
When he’s not working or planning for the future, he likes to go on trips. Life on the street or near it, however, is tough, and Marek realises this more than anyone else. He recently celebrated his name day, which made him happy, but he immediately follows that with the sad news of the deaths of two fellow street vendors who were over eighty. “That’s life—none of us are immortal,” he shrugs.
More than just food
Lunch for Another has one more crucial dimension besides a full stomach: integration. “It’s a project where we’ve long seen great value. The vendors get to interact with society, feel like they’re part of it for a while, and, of course, have a good meal. Most of our clients sleep in a night shelter or live in a dormitory, where they don’t have the chance to cook properly, let alone eat in peace,” adds Monika Dvořáková of Nový prostor.
The plate of beef shoulder is empty, though Marek adds with a smile that nothing really compares to a classic svíčková. He politely thanks the staff and begins getting ready for the return trip to his “shift” in Motol. For the restaurant’s guests, those 90 CZK may be just a small item added to the bill, but for Marek and the other vendors, it represents something that’s priceless. Simple human respect, a moment of peace at a set table, and the heartwarming feeling that society still counts on them.
