A recent project I completed was called Take Comfort, as part of an "Artist-in-Residence for a day" assignment.

I approached my residency with Hear the Hungry, a nonprofit organization based in New York started in 2010 by Rebecca Pokryska, Grace Zinnel, Lauren Guzman and Cristin Armstrong, whose mission is to humanize those who face hunger and spread awareness of issues of hunger. Volunteers gather for weekly "Rounds" where sandwiches and hygiene products are given away as video and audio documentation of individuals' stories are collected to form an archive.

On the evening of the Rounds I had planned to take comfort by staying in and making tea and cinnamon buns, and numb my sore muscles with Advil.  I decided instead to pack these items and delay my gratification (except the Advil, which I took right away) and bring them to the Rounds with the hope of finding the right person to enjoy these comforts with.

photo: Grace HwangI reached Penn Station around 8pm and the volunteers had already ordered and picked up 500 6" Subway sandwiches, which are donated weekly by means of one of their supporters.  They wrote, "Happy Holidays! Love, Hear the Hungry" with Sharpie across the plastic bags.  I didn't feel comfortable writing the same, as I didn't yet identify myself as part of the organization, nor did I feel the sandwich was a gift I could give, since it cost me nothing.  Instead I wrote the following:

photo: Grace HwangWe each divvied up the tuna and turkey sandwiches amongst the volunteers and I planted my sandwich in my bag.  Many people (mostly male) were asleep on the floor or sitting upright in the waiting room seats as the last of the commuters rushed by to catch their trains home.  I learned later that everyone is vacated at 2:30AM for cleaning so this was the time many of the homeless chose to sleep. Some volunteers recognized familiar faces and reunited with hugs as they gave out sandwiches.  I felt a little uneasy making assumptions of who to offer a sandwich to.  My bag was still heavy.

Until I entered a waiting room full of people and made eye contact with a man.  "Would you like a sandwich?" It came out naturally. "Yes, I would actually, thank you." 

It was the comfort sandwich.
"Oh, it says 'Take Comfort' - would you like to take it?"
"Uh.. um.."
"This one is special because it comes with other comforts I've prepared especially for the taker to take comfort in.  If you want to. Would you like to take comfort with me?"
"What is it?"
"Cinnamon buns."
"Oh ok sure, I'll take one."
"Are they still warm?  I just baked them."
"No."
"I also prepared some tea.  Would you like tea with your bun?" 
"Yeah - tea would actually be really nice."
"I have caffeinated and non-caffeinated."
"I'll take non-caffeinated."

"Good choice.  It's cinnamon.  My brother introduced it to me.  It's one of my favorites."
In my periphery I noticed eyebrows raise from nearby commuters and a man lean forward slightly to improve his view of our interaction. I pulled out two small ceramic tea cups and steeped the Good Earth tea bag in a thermos of piping hot water. Over two cups of hot cinnamon tea we talked about favorite movies, our families, where we were going for Thanksgiving.  Then there was a long pause.  And then he spoke again,

"You know, I was just pondering, this is really comforting.  I haven't felt this in awhile."
"Yeah, I feel very comfortable with you, too, Steven."

photo: Hear the Hungry, modified by Grace Hwang