by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Not too long ago, former Jaguars linebacker Tom McManus took a tour of the Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless. He quickly agreed to serve as honorary chair of the Sulzbacher’s “Walk a Mile in Their Shows” fundraiser which is set for March 27.
McManus, who hosts a morning sports talk radio show on AM-930, decided that wasn’t enough. He told his wife Kristina about the Center and its needs and as a family they decided to do more.
Wednesday, McManus with wife and two of his three daughters in tow, made good on that vow by serving lunch to hundreds of Sulzbacher residents.
And, he wasn’t alone. Former Jaguar Joel Smeenge and former New Orleans Saint Gerald Wayne Martin also helped serve a lunch of grilled chicken, brown rice, steamed broccoli and salad.
“Why I wanted to do this was a) to give back. That’s what life is all about,” said McManus. “And, b) after I took the tour and agreed to be spokesman, I thought: my girls need to see this. It’s the season, it feels good, I have the time off and so do they.”
Sulzbacher Chef Kevin Nacke oversees a staff of just four. Over the course of a day — which starts at 4:30 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. 365 days a year — the Center will serve 1,300 meals. Nacke said without volunteers and help from some of the residents, it would be very difficult to serve that many meals. Having former Jaguars on hand makes it ever better.
“It’s always fun.” said Nacke, who will mark nine years with the Sulzbacher Center in February. “We always have a good time and we get a variety of people. We love when people come and see what we do.”
For lunch alone Wednesday, Nacke and his staff and volunteers cooked and served 100 pounds of chicken breast, 40 pounds of brown rice, 40 pounds of steamed broccoli and 60 pounds of salad.
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