Marco Morosini is an Alabama Bright Light opening his Heart to Table for the homeless
When the temperature dips near freezing in Birmingham, Boutwell Auditorium opens as a shelter for more than 300 people on many nights. But what will they eat? Marco Morosini knows the answer, provided by Heart to Table. “Six or seven years ago I began to bring food to the homeless,” said Morosini, the owner of Silvertron Café and the founder of Heart to Table. “We feed them local food from Alabama, which is the beautiful thing about this organization. I had local eggs, collard greens, pork chops and cabbage delivered. Royal Cup donated coffee. All of this gets delivered to the Boutwell for the homeless during cold nights.” Silvertron has been around for 30 years, and Morosini took over as owner in 2007. He has implored other restaurant owners to come on board. Heart to Table now has 22 restaurants, including Basil Gourmet Pizza & Bar, Bellinis Ristorante & Bar, Bottega Café, Chez Lulu, Gianmarco’s, Rojo and others. “Throughout the year I’m working on recruiting more restaurants, but I’m always helping. The original idea was to just do this in the winter, but in September when the tornado came through Birmingham and they opened Boutwell auditorium for the homeless, we stepped in,” Morosini said. The restaurants in Heart to Table partner with Urban Food Project with REV Birmingham. “It connects local farmers with the restaurants,” Morosini said. “On Christmas Day, we served 70 pork chops from Fudge Family Farms in Madison, Alabama. We had two big containers of cooked collard greens and cabbages from farms in this state. There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing farmers supporting the homeless.” Don Lupo, director of the Office of Citizens Assistance for the City of Birmingham, said that if it wasn’t for Morosini, feeding the homeless at shelters for nearly 30 nights a year would be difficult. “I have called Marco our patron angel,” Lupo said. “He’s there not some nights, but every night, and he brings amazing food with him. Heart to Table happens because of him. The Boutwell has been open this winter for 16 nights already.” In addition to Heart to Table, Morosini has created Movies in Avondale Park, a free family summer movie series. He has also brought the Alabama Symphony Orchestra to the park for free spring concerts. His love for the community is unending. “Having 22 restaurants, and as big of a number as that is, at the end of the day it’s not that many. When the time comes, it’s not that easy to drop what you’re doing and cook for 250 people,” Morosini said. So why does Morosini do all of this? “I do this because everyone is a person just like you and me. Nobody deserves to have second-class food, nobody deserves to have anything less than what you and I would eat,” he said. “These people are sadly less fortunate, and if I can do anything to make their night at the shelter more enjoyable, tastier, warmer, then I’m going to do it.” Morosini insists that Silvertron provides not only good food, but a warm and inviting atmosphere. He puts as much value in the surroundings and the community as he does in the food. “It’s priceless when someone who is homeless says ‘God bless you’ and ‘thank you for what you’re doing,’” Morosini said. “That moment right there is payback for all the hours spent in the kitchen and all the money invested. There’s no better feeling than that.” For information or to be included in Heart to Table, visit the organization’s Facebook page. Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Birmingham warming stations remain open for those seeking shelter
Due to the extreme cold, the Magic City is continuing to keep open warming stations for those in the community to take haven and keep warm. The City of Birmingham’s warming station will remain open all day on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at the BJCC South Hall, due to a continued cold snap in the area. On the Wednesday, Jan. 3, the city will move the warming station to Boutwell Auditorium, across from Linn Park, to make way for a pre-planned trade show at the BJCC’s South Hall. “We thank the BJCC for allowing us to use its South Hall as a warming station since Dec. 25. Each night, we’ve served more than 200 people. The last two nights, we have had more than 300,” Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “We remain committed to putting people first and working with agencies that serve the homeless community.” Currently, the plan is to operate the Boutwell warming station on Wednesday, Jan. 3, Thursday, Jan. 4; and Friday, Jan. 5. The Boutwell warming station will close at 9 a.m. and reopen at 5 p.m. on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5. Because the warming station will be open all day on Jan. 2 at the BJCC, and Jan. 3-5 at the Boutwell, additional volunteers are needed. At this time, volunteers are needed on Jan. 2 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Don Lupo, director of the Mayor’s Office of Citizens Assistance, said he is thankful for all of the donated supplies, food and coats. But currently, the warming station has enough clothes, coats, shoes and hygiene products. What is needed now are scarves, gloves and knit caps. Supplemental food to stretch the main meals in the evening, is also needed. Donations may be made on Jan. 2 at the BJCC South Hall from 12 to 5 p.m. The door to the South Hall faces Ninth Avenue North and is between Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard and 19th Street North. Since crews will be moving cots and supplies from the BJCC to the Boutwell during the day on Jan. 3, it is suggested that donations are made at 5 p.m. or later on Jan. 3.
Luther Strange reviews complaints over ‘no guns allowed’ signs in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Clay
Signs banning guns at various locations across the state have been removed following a series of complaints concerning possible unlawful prohibitions of firearms in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Clay, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said Monday. Signs banning guns at the Tuscaloosa Public Library, Birmingham’s Boutwell Auditorium and Railroad Park and Clay City Hall have been removed after AG Strange reviewed and investigated each complaint, where appropriate, worked with the public entity to achieve compliance with state law. After the removal and assurances residents’ rights to carry would not be abridged, no further action was deemed necessary by Strange. Strange’s Monday announcement is among nearly 30 similar statements he has made since July 2015 after investigating formal complaints about violations of Alabama’s firearms law by state government entities. Each complaint triggers a review from the state attorney general. The results of the attorney general’s investigations are summarized below, along with links to his determinations. Tuscaloosa Public Library The Attorney General’s Office reviewed a complaint that the Tuscaloosa Public Library failed to comply with Alabama law because it prohibited firearms. After the Attorney General communicated with the Tuscaloosa Public Library, the signs prohibiting firearms were removed. Because the signs are removed, the Attorney General has determined that no further action is required. City of Birmingham The Attorney General’s Office reviewed a complaint that the City of Birmingham failed to comply with Alabama law because it prohibited firearms at Boutwell Auditorium and Railroad Park. After the Attorney General communicated with the City, the signs prohibiting firearms were removed. Because the signs are removed, the Attorney General has determined that no further action is required. City of Clay The Attorney General’s Office reviewed a complaint that the City of Clay failed to comply with Alabama law because it prohibited firearms at City Hall. After the Attorney General communicated with the City, the signs prohibiting firearms were removed. Because the signs are removed, the Attorney General has determined that no further action is required.
