Restaurant’s Black History lunch box raises $1,000 for Detroit neighborhood

Pictured: Russell Howard and Tanisha Finley of Central Detroit Christian and Beans & Cornbread Owner Patrick Coleman.

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Restaurant’s Black History lunch box raises $1,000 for Detroit neighborhood

SOUTHFIELD - Proceeds from a specialty box sold during Black History Month by Beans & Cornbread restaurant were presented to a Detroit community group on Thursday.

Patrick Coleman, owner of Beans & Cornbread, presented a $1,000 check to Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corp., 1550 Taylor Street in Detroit. The restaurant also provided meals to 60 CDC youths on Feb. 6.

“Having this donation will allow us to continue to grow our reach in the neighborhoods,” said Lisa Johanon, executive director of Central Detroit Christian. “We appreciate Beans & Cornbread’s support, both through the meals that were provided as well as with the donation.”

The CDC community group provides housing, employment, youth and other programs to support residents in Detroit’s North End neighborhood.

The donation represents 10% of proceeds Beans & Cornbread collected from selling its History in a Box lunch. The restaurant created the box, covered with short stories about trailblazers ranging from Satchel Paige to the Freedom Riders, to re-enact the experience of blacks living in the Jim Crow South and to educate during Black History Month. Years ago, black people would use a shoebox to tote food when they were banned from eating in certain places while traveling.

“We’re happy to raise awareness with our patrons and give back to the community,” said Coleman, noting that he received orders from around the country for the box.

“We’re glad that people were open to this approach to telling our story. We really wanted to share both our troubled history and, at that same time, honor our history makers,” he said.

Beans & Cornbread has been described as “the place for upscale soul food,” and its offerings include Southern favorites such as fried chicken, farm-raised catfish, candied sweet potatoes and macaroni & cheese.

For more information about Central Detroit Christian, go to https://centraldetroitchristian.org/. For more about Beans & Cornbread, call 248-208-1680 or go to http://beanscornbread.com/.