Inspirational speaker turns her attention to feeding the hungry during the pandemic

Khurshida Begum is cooking her way through the pandemic.

Before COVID-19 changed life, Begum was an inspirational speaker and trainer focusing on human-rights issues. Now, though her passion for connecting and empowering people is unchanged, she’s helping to keep South Sound well-nourished.

She’s attracted a growing fan base for the Bengali-and-beyond meals she offers for Sunday pickup or delivery, but most of the food she cooks isn’t for sale.

Since mid-March, she has made more than 1,500 hot meals for hungry people — meals that have been distributed through nonprofit organizations such as Interfaith Works and Family Education and Support Services (FESS) and directly to Olympia’s tent encampments.

And these aren’t just any meals.

“There is nothing better in this world than Khurshida’s butter chicken,” said Shelly Willis, executive director of FESS and a fan of Begum’s ready-to-eat meals. “I love her barbecued chicken with mac and cheese, too.”

Also on Begum’s rotating menus are a wide array of curries, beef keema (a chili-like dish with peas and potatoes), lasagna, spaghetti and Native American-style fry-bread tacos.

The meals are a community effort, led by Begum and her husband, Rubel Mina. Each purchased meal ($15 for an entree) funds a donated one, and Begum also accepts direct donations. Volunteers help her package the meals for donation.

Begum, a native of Bangladesh who’s lived in Washington since she was a child, has a broad definition of comfort food.

“When it comes to feeding poor people who are in need, sometimes there’s not much thought about comforting foods for people of different ethnic backgrounds,” she said. “When I volunteered at soup kitchens, it used to bother me that the meals were mostly things like sloppy joes or beef stroganoff. There’s a large population of black and brown people, and those aren’t necessarily foods that are comforting for us.”

She offers side dish and dessert options ($3 each) with the meals she sells, and for the donated meals, she includes the extras. “Dessert is important,” she said.

When the nation began to feel the impact of the virus, Begum watched the mad scramble to buy toilet paper, antibacterial wipes and other supplies.

“We talk about toilet paper and masks being essential,” she said. “Healthy, hot food is an essential.

“My first thought was, ‘How are people on the street going to eat if there are no soup kitchens?’ ” she added. “For the people who come to soup kitchens, that’s the highlight of their day.”

She aims to offer comfort, connection and a sense of community through her food, both for those who choose to buy or donate meals and for those who receive the food.

Begum is best known as a speaker and human-rights advocate, winning a YWCA Women of Achievement Award in 2015 for her work raising awareness of human trafficking and slavery.

But cooking has long been a part of her work, too, and the link between food and community has been a consistent theme.

“I used to do monthly community gatherings at the Lacey Community Center, and it was around food,” she said. “We would talk about community issues over my hot, healthy ethnic food.

“Food is a universal language,” she added. “If you have a table full of strangers, food can be an entryway to connection and conversation.”

Meals by Khurshida Begum

Want to try Khurshida Begum’s meals for pickup or delivery? To order, email chefkhurshida@gmail.com/FB or text 360-561-9229 by 10 a.m. Saturday for Sunday meals.

Entrees are $15, with side dishes available for $3 each. For each meal you buy, one is donated, or a $15 donation pays for a meal for someone in need. Pay via Venmo @chefkhurshida3 or Paypal begumk216@yahoo.com.

The meal Begum is preparing for Sunday, Aug. 16 will benefit Community Youth Services. It will include breakfast burrito (eggs, potato, beef bacon and veggies in a flour tortilla); veggies with potato and corn tortillas; chicken biryani; and kabuli palaw (a rice dish with beef, carrots and raisins).

For more information, go to her Facebook page, email chefkhurshida@gmail.com/FB, or call 360-561-9229.

This story was originally published August 14, 2020 at 5:45 AM.