“I was an executive at a government communications company for almost 30 years. We worked with prison telephone systems that had higher levels of security. We recorded every call and had software that detected keywords in a conversation. Somebody was always planning something.

Dauphin Island is my permanent home, but I had a loft in Mobile and an apartment outside of Washington D.C. I spent about a third of my time in each place.

I love to cook and entertain. I used to throw a Christmas party on Dauphin Island, and more than 300 people would come.

Since food is my passion, I wanted to cook for others after I retired. I didn’t want a restaurant with the same menu all of the time, so I came up with this concept for Dinner’s Ready with grab and go meals that are always changing. I bought the building and opened on October 29, 2018.

This little store is the heartbeat and epicenter of the Island. If there is a collection drive or the community is helping a family in need, we are the drop-off place where people bring money, food, clothes, or household items. Everyone knows where we are, and our gazebo is a good collection site. We call ourselves the second welcome center.

During one of the government shutdowns, the Coast Guard wasn’t paid, and that affected people at the Coast Guard base on the Island. We collected pet food and diapers and made casseroles for the families.

At the beginning of the Covid lockdown, we were the only restaurant open on the Island for three weeks. We took food to the elderly and those who were shut in and couldn’t get out.

I have been on this Island a long time, and I do whatever I can to help my neighbors in celebrations or the hard times.”

Teresa

“My husband and I sold our home in North Carolina and moved to Dauphin Island on November 12, 2018. We didn’t know anyone here. After being home for two weeks, I was going stir crazy but didn’t want to go back to the nonprofit world where I worked many years.

I was the homeless education specialist for our school system and handled close to 1,200 homeless children a year providing support and mental health service. I also became the program director at our local shelter. I loved my work, but I needed something different that didn’t depend on grants for funding.

I started spending time in this shop with Teresa and stalked my way into a job. Now we are best buds. We live a block from each other, vacation together, and get involved in every Island event.

Our kitchen is in the front of the store, so we greet people as soon as they walk in. We know when a family member is sick, or something is going on, and we are here to listen and encourage. There is no such thing as a stranger. We love our people and our Island.”

Jan