KELLIE DAVIS

Licensed ServSafe Food Manager for the weekly Community Meal Program. I was born here in Milwaukee WI. I'm the youngest of three children. Thinking back I have to say I’ve lived a pretty blessed life.

I know there are many people that say they had hard, difficult childhoods. I’m happy to say I’m not one. My mother wasn't rich or even well to do, but we never had to go without anything we needed. My mother worked full time at her job for over thirty years and with The Lord's help she raised us well.

One of the many blessings I enjoyed was the ability to travel from a very young age. I had a great sitter who treated me like family and whenever she left Milwaukee she took me with her. I enjoyed going places and meeting new people so much it was hard for my loving (and protective) mother to say no!

My favorite trips, though, have always been to London. My mother was a native Brit, born and raised in London England. I was only six or seven the first time my mother took me there. As I got older my mother and I went quite a few different places but London still holds a special place in my heart. And I've since been able to show my children and grandchildren why.

Through my mother I also learned the fulfillment volunteering can bring. I've organized fundraisers and led food drives, while enjoying taking groups of children to the zoo, different fairs and festivals. I’ve met many people along the way and made some life long friends.

Through volunteering and working I began learning about running a business. If anyone had told me years ago I would one day have my own catering business, I would probably have laughed. I was so busy with other aspects of life that learning to cook just wasn't on my agenda.

But, with my mothers help, I learned to bake cookies. After trying out different recipes and adding a few of my own touches, I was able come up with my own recipes to sell. As time passed, I started preparing and serving those same recipes and was a little surprised to find that I was pretty good at it.

After a lot of encouragement, I decided to start my own catering business called “Kellie’s Katering.” Word of mouth referrals have been my best source of new clients. I now cater many different events, including birthdays, anniversaries and business meetings.

I share that same genuine, wholesome, and homemade approach I take to catering each time I plan and prepare a large group meal for the guests of St. Peter's "Fruits of the Vine" Community Feeding Program.

Based on the new guests we're seeing and increasing number of meals we're providing each Saturday, I'd like to believe we're fulfilling our mission successfully: Providing meaningful sustenance to those less fortunate in a dignified manner.