Coffee, Toast and Ashes

Community, built slowly, at the Hotel Cecil

Community doesn’t just happen.
It takes time. It takes trust. And it takes the quiet decision to remain steady and consistent.

That’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years at the Hotel Cecil. What struck me recently is that we’re starting to refer to some of our work as annual. That might sound small, but it isn’t. It means something has endured long enough to be counted on.

This year marks our fourth year offering Ashes on the Street on Ash Wednesday in front of the Hotel Cecil. Traditionally, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance. On the street, we understand it a little differently. Ashes still speak of the impermanence of life — remember that you are dust — but here they also become a sign of belonging. A sign that someone is seen. A sign that they are part of something, not outside of it.

For our residents and neighbors, the ashes say: you are not alone. And it is my honor to impose them on all who ask.

Ashes on the Street at the Hotel Cecil, 2023

That same sense of belonging shows up every week through Coffee and Toast, held every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. People gather in our community space on the mezzanine for a cup of coffee, toast with all the fixings, and time to talk. While we sponsor it, Coffee and Toast is run by a couple of our residents. That matters. It’s not something done to the community. It’s something done by the community.

That mezzanine space is sacred ground. In 1940, it was the site of the first public Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Los Angeles. We try to honor that history by keeping it a place that is welcoming, safe, and grounded in dignity.

Resident Volunteer Krisha passing out donated lasagnas at a recent Coffee and Toast.

This is what community looks like on a regular basis. Not grand gestures, but consistency. Familiar faces. Shared responsibility. Trust built slowly over time.

Coffee and Toast is sustained through generosity. Prepared food donations are always welcome, and for those who prefer, there is also a way to contribute financially to help cover ongoing costs. If you’d like to reach out about food or support, please email us or make a donation here. This shared generosity keeps the table open week after week.

And finally, a brief Jacob update. He continues to move through the court process, which has been slow and complex. The challenge remains finding a sentence that genuinely supports his rehabilitation while also serving justice. He returns to court on February 19, and we are hoping — and praying — for an outcome that is both just and humane.

Community doesn’t announce itself. It grows. And when you realize you’re planning for a fourth year, you understand that something real has taken root.

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Friends of the Cecil is a ministry of the St. Max Kolbe Mission and is sustained by the generosity of our readers and community. If you’re able, please consider supporting this work through a financial contribution or by sharing this post with others.