On a recent Tuesday evening, Ray Gipson’s Coach’s Cutz barber shop on Washington Street smelled for all the world like a wonderful restaurant.
And no wonder.
Three sizable slow cookers filled with chicken tacos were being prepped from the back kitchen — enough to serve 86 people total at no cost at Brighter Days emergency shelter, Horizon House homeless shelter, and Turning Point Domestic Violence Services. On the first Tuesday of every month now, Gipson trades his scissors for cutlery and turns his shop on Washington Street — or at least its sizable kitchen — into a location of compassion for the hurting.
Ideally, he’d like to take a little of their pain right off the top.
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“This is not for any publicity (for my business),” Gipson said, reiterating that he himself never would have told any media about this effort that began Dec. 3 with 60 free meals for the struggling. “But this is so that you can see that there are people willing to give.”
Ideally, he means others, such as the local 7K Farms that donated the shredded chicken, or Big Lots that donated bowls, chips and salsa. And others have donated food for the meals, too.
“I won’t accept any money,” he said.
Truth be told, the 55-year-old Columbus resident initially did not want to accept any publicity, either. But, a well-meaning friend told others about Gipson’s generous efforts. And now he is pursuing the proper restaurant licensing so he can continue his kindness every month.
What can the altruistic barber say? He jumped right into his thesis statement.
“I came here (from New Jersey) homeless,” he said, abruptly backspacing to 1999. “I was addicted to a little bit of everything — heroin, pills, alcohol, marijuana. Broken.
“So I know how many of these local people feel. And God has just been telling me to go ahead and tell my story.”
He credits God with his eventual freedom and recovery.
The retired Columbus North High School freshman football coach — hence the name of his business — has no long-term strategy for sharing his faith, other than to give hope to those who suffer from addiction. He cares about them enough to do this much, triggered by recently finding a used drug syringe right outside the back door of his shop.
“I decided right then and there that I had to do God’s work — and do something to protect my (business) interests,” he said.
A team of volunteers, including son Keenan Noel, helped assemble the taco meals and deliver them. Brandon Nielsen, a recovered addict and now a peer recovery coach at Columbus Regional Health’s Treatment and Support Center, is among the volunteers.
“I just love the fact that we all can come together to help make a difference,” Nielsen said. “And for Ray to be in a position to do something like this, and then to do it, is amazing.”
Gipson, who knows so many people locally, wants to make certain anyone using the nonprofit agencies services where food is being donated that they never see him dropping off food, just in case they might be embarrassed about their plight.
When Noel and others bring 40 meals at Brighter Days, one client, Boyd Brandenburger, quickly devoured his servings and seemed genuinely surprised when someone asked if they tasted good.
“Good?” he asked. “They’re great.”
His wife, Christina Guthrie, mentioned that she was touched that people think of them, especially since she and her spouse have struggled mightily ever since a house fire landed them at the shelter in August. In the evening, Brighter Days clients normally get snacks, since most of their meals are meant to be on their own through local churches meal sites at Love Chapel and other sites.
“I think this a nice treat,” Guthrie said.
In the future, Gipson eventually wants to bring his meals to the area homeless under bridges and elsewhere. He wants to physically feed them, yes. But he also wants to feed them hope amid their despair.
“I am passionate about people,” he said. “And this right here is my pulpit.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the outreach” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
When it began: Dec. 3.
When: The first Tuesday of each month.
Where: Originates from the kitchen at Coach’s Cutz barber shop.
Why: To help the struggling, and to let them know that many others love and care about them.
Includes: A range of volunteers from family members of Ray Gipson to his friends. He is open to others volunteering.
Information: The Facebook page for Coach’s Cutz.
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