Kristen RemingtonChannel 2 News
For more than 20-years, Ray Trevino has served our community by feeding hundreds of hungry people at St. Vincent's Dining Room every day. "I had seven pounds of ground beef and the rest is vegetables and pasta," he explains as he stirs the largest pot of gourmet soup anyone has ever seen.
He is a gourmet chef, although he likely would never admit it. Ray worked many years in the private and commercial sectors – cooking at a variety of restaurants. He finds helping the homeless, however, most rewarding; a job absent of praise and recognition.
The Kindness Crew thought he deserved a little though.
Brian Williams of our Kindness Crew organized a random act of kindness for Ray called the "Pampered Chef." A group of Ray's friends, co-workers and family met in the back of his kitchen and surprised him with cheering, cameras and hugs. Brian informed Ray that he was chosen to be the recipient of a random act of kindness. "All of us got together and we couldn't think of someone more deserving than you. So, we just wanted to say thank you."
Then Ray found out he wasn't cooking that night.
"He will give food to anybody, no matter what. Everyone will go away with food in their stomach and today we're sort of turning the tables on him and we're going to be serving him," explained Brian.
Bell Limo provided an SUV Limo to transport the group to dinner. The Peppermill hosted a complimentary meal at Chi Restaurant. It was there we found out why Ray does what he does.
His sister, Elisa Brown, says their Mama would always give small amounts of food away to anyone who needed it. "Ray saw this and he started doing this. Although he would take big grocery bags and fill them up!" Years later, he continues feeding anyone who asks. Giving, nurturing and loving the needy is in his nature, as well as the gift of humility. "Thank you for this honor," Ray said, "I don't believe I'm the one who needs the recognition. I believe that the Lord brought me over to where I am now and I'm blessed to be there."
To participate in the Kindness Crew's next Random Act of Kindness, log onto www.thinkkindness.org for more information.
