The close-knit culinary community are contributing to a reception following the Feb. 1 funeral for the 29-year-old man who was brutally beaten by police officers on Jan. 7 and later died from those injuries.
A show of support
Last week in Memphis, RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, the parents of Tyre Nichols, were having lunch with attorney Ben Crump at Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe. Owner Tamra Patterson approached the table, offering support. The conversation led to hugs and her offer to prepare a repast, feeding friends and family after the funeral.
“It’s a way to bring people together, to offer some comfort,” Patterson said in a phone interview.
When she shared the news on a text string with a number of chefs and restaurateurs, many reached out wanting to help. “What we’re ending up with is a smorgasbord of everything from tacos and horchata to lasagna and polenta,” she said.
Volunteers stepped up to assist with setting up and serving food. “It’s about pulling together as a community,” she said. “We’re just trying to make it as comforting as possible, to surround the city with love instead of division and hate. We hope it’s helpful for them to see.”
The funeral service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. CT Wednesday at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. It will be live-streamed.
A GoFundMe effort to raise money for funeral expenses has blossomed into an outpouring of support for the grief-stricken family with more than $1.3 million raised so far. Many donations are accompanied by poignant messages.
Memphis restaurants scheduled to participate include:
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