Nine Years of Showing Up: Tessie Hawkins and the Heart Behind Fork Real
Tessie Hawkins
At Fork Real Community Café, the mission has always been simple: use food to meet people where they are. But behind every meal served, every volunteer welcomed, and every event pulled off, there are people who show up day after day to make it all possible. Tessie Hawkins is one of those people.
Tessie has been woven into the story of Fork Real since 2016, when founders Rhonda and Dave first invited her to sit in on a board meeting because she was simply someone who believed in what they were building. Years later, in 2022, she joined the team as Kitchen Manager. Today, she serves as the Volunteer Coordinator, a role that puts her right at the intersection of people and purpose.
The Same Question, Every Day
Tessie's earliest days on staff weren't without challenges. There were many ups and downs, from daily uncertainties to a big location change. But through all of it, she says, the underlying motive never wavered: "How do we use food to meet our community where they're at?"
That question has guided Fork Real through every transition, every pivot, every new space. It's the same question Tessie brings with her every time she walks through the door.
What a Day Really Looks Like
Ask Tessie to describe a typical day, and you'll quickly realize there's nothing typical about it. Upon arriving, she comes in, takes stock of what needs to get done, checks which volunteers are scheduled, and finds out if any groups are coming in for a meal. From there, the day is in motion.
She works alongside volunteers, leads and trains groups when they come in, steps up front to take orders, deliver food to tables when needed, and closes out the day with cleanup. She also works with Fork Real’s founder, Rhonda, to build the volunteer schedule, making sure the café has what it needs to run smoothly.
The behind-the-scenes work? People might be surprised. "There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes," Tessie says. "I think people would be surprised at how much time and work go into getting ready to put on an event or deliver catering. There are a lot of logistics and details that go into those kinds of things."
It's the Little Things
When Tessie thinks about what has stayed with her most over the years, she doesn't land on one big moment. She lands on all the small ones. The conversations with guests. The volunteers who came through and left a mark. Something she finds especially meaningful: hearing from volunteers who learned a new skill at the café and then took it home to use with their families.
That's the ripple effect Fork Real creates, one that doesn't always show up in the numbers but matters deeply to the people in the room.
Rising to the Challenge
If you ask Tessie what she's most proud of, she'll tell you about the move from the St. Joe location to Fork Real's current home on Main Street. From the inside, she says, the growth that happened through that transition was remarkable. Staff and volunteers alike rose to meet the challenge, and the café found its footing in a new space.
She's also proud of the work to build a better volunteer experience, one that feels consistent and welcoming, whether someone is walking in for the first time or the fiftieth. "It's not to say we have done it perfectly," she says, "but that it creates a more consistent experience for everyone." That kind of honest, steady commitment is exactly what Fork Real is built on.
What Fork Real Has Taught Her
Working at Fork Real hasn't just shaped how Tessie does her job. It's shaped who she is. She's learned to leave work at the door when she goes home to her husband and three kids. She's learned that you can't make everyone happy, and that's okay. And she's discovered something about herself she might not have expected: that she can be assertive, advocate for the people around her, and hold her ground, respectfully, and with care.
"I have learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of," she says.
That kind of growth happens in a place where people are trusted with real responsibility, where the work is meaningful, and where the community shows up to remind you why it matters.
An Invitation
Tessie wants people to know something when they walk through the door for the first time: "We love our community, and we love food. We don't lower our standards to provide amazing food to our entire community, regardless of whether they have paid or not."
If you're thinking about getting involved, she has a message for you, too. Bring your small group for a meal. Take a cooking class. Attend a volunteer training. Come to the Annual Chef’s Dinner Auction. There are so many ways to be part of what Fork Real is doing, and the café is ready to welcome you.
Tessie has given nearly a decade to this community, showing up with consistent care and a genuine love for the people who walk through the door.
When you support Fork Real, you're helping make space for people to do work that matters for our community. You're helping ensure there is a seat at the table for everyone.