An exclusive interview by Lorraine Jones
Blessings come in the most unexpected places, including food! Delphia Brewton, founder, and CEO of Blessings From My Heart To Your Table uses her gourmet dishes to restore the lives of women and children who have been affected by domestic violence. Brewton uses her culinary skills to equip survivors of abuse with the resources they need to sustain themselves on their journey to rehabilitation.
Blessings Catering’s authentic gourmet soul food facilitates the recovery and healing of women traumatized by abusive relationships. Through this nonprofit organization, Brewton provides employment and career training for survivors, establishing much-needed stability in their lives. The entirety of the Blessings staff has been abused sexually, physically, or mentally. The mission of this organization is to eradicate homelessness among these neglected women. Their overall goal is to help these women develop financial stability in their efforts to restore and gain control of their lives.
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After leaving an abusive marriage of 14 years, Brewton created a haven for other brave women who have gone through the same mistreatment. “I need to give these ladies something that I wish I had. And help them in a way I wish I was helped. I need someone to talk to them in a way I wish I was spoken to.
A lot of the time people will shame you, they victim shame you ‘why did it take you so long? Why do you continue to be homeless? How are you taking care of your children?’,” said Brewton. This Tacoma, Washington native says guiding these women is the most rewarding task in the world to her. Breathing life back into these women is simply her duty, what she has been called to do.
After having no resources such as this when she was overcoming such trauma herself, Brewton experienced homelessness and sabotage from her abuser as well as her inner demons. It was her faith in God and her passion for cooking that pulled her out of such a dark place and led her to such success. Her culinary career helped create a sense of pride and purpose.
The financial stability she gained as a private chef helped Brewton’s healing progress after the abuse. Cooking was therapeutic for her in many ways. It helped her with validation from others and also for herself. It allowed her to get into a creative mood and try new things that worked! Thus, allowing her to become financially independent outside of her toxic relationship.
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Establishing herself after being worn down physically and emotionally was not easy. Healing and recovering from years of abuse is a long and dark road that is extremely difficult to travel. Officially leaving and moving on post domestic violence is one of the hardest things to do in life. “In most cases, you can't just walk away. I was in a situation where I couldn't just walk away, actually, I was lying breathless on my bathroom floor and it wasn't until I called onto the name of Jesus that I came back to life,” said the chef.
A coping mechanism that helped her deal with her trauma was prioritizing her mental health. Brewton had to mentally rebuild everything that was stripped away and destroyed in her abusive marriage. “I had to reprogram myself. I told myself things that I wasn’t told and that I didn’t believe in myself. I had to tell myself I was beautiful. I had to tell myself that I had great hygiene because at the time I did not. I didn't care about hygiene. I didn't care about anything. I didn’t think my life was worth anything.”
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Not only is it difficult to build yourself up after such hardship but as a Black woman, Brewton also had to work that much harder to counteract the negativity that the media projected. “As a Black woman you are looked at as though society doesn't care about you, as though they can do what they want to do to you. Black women get looked over so many times. We are often used as a trophy for so many white lead non-profit organizations saying ‘hey we help Black women’. But when a Black woman goes to them for help, they don't help us. This is why I need to stand up and say we are helping all women who need help. I believe [all] women who say they've been abused,” said Brewton.
As a Black woman-owned business, this kind of representation is important and necessary to show Black women and children what is possible and what they deserve. Brewton had to continue putting one foot in front of the other and reminding herself she IS beautiful and she IS successful. She practiced positive affirmations until she truly felt what she was saying.
You can support this warrior chef and her efforts to equip these neglected women with counseling and immediate daily needs by going to blessingscatering.org and donating to her non-profit organization or by purchasing a ticket to her upcoming concert featuring Grammy award winner CeCe Winans on October 23rd, 2021.
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