Chef who once faced homelessness serves and inspires community
By Kimberly King
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Hendersonville, North Carolina (WLOS) — on-profits opened their doors serving Thanksgiving meals with love to hundreds. But at the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, the love of giving and receiving food came full circle this year for the rescue mission’s chef.
“If I had to say anything to anybody out there, I’d tell them they can do it,” said Chris Gosnell.
Gosnell oversaw the prepping and cooking for the entire Thanksgiving meal that served over 300 people on Friday and Saturday.
“I feel privileged to be part of this. It’s a real blessing,” Gosnell said.
Gosnell grew up in Mills River.
“I was homeless,” Gosnell said. “I had a had a lot of trauma as a child. I had a lot of things I hadn’t deal with. I had deaths in the family. Once I got sober from drug addiction, and started to get some counseling I was able to get this stuff out and start healing.”
Coming a long way, Gosnell has been sober for four years. After reaching sobriety from drug addiction, Rescue Mission helped get Gosnell into a cooking training program that’s changed his life.
“This place gives you the tools to be successful. It’s not something you’ll do in one day,” Gosnell.
While Gosnell oversaw all the food coming out on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., he said it was worth it to see everyone eating the meal, smiling and enjoying it.
The meal included several Thanksgiving classics, including turkey, rolls, beans, and sweet potatoes.
“Being with friends and just sitting down,” said Richard Lange, who dined with Ragland about the meal. “Being a human. It brings a little home to me.”
Tim Jones, Hendersonville Rescue Mission’s operations director, says Gosnell is very dedicated.
“Chris is so dedicated,” Jones said. “He’s the one that wants to get it right because he was on the receiving end.”
Gosnell says he hopes to be as much of an inspiration for other people as they are to him.
“I hope that I’m an inspiration to other people,” said Gosnell. “As other people were an inspiration to me.”
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