Meals That Matter
Nubian Queen Lola rewarded for years of service
By Nina Hernandez, 3:20PM, Fri. Jan. 15, 2016
Lola Stephens-Bell, owner of Nubian Queen Lola’s Cajun Soul Food Cafe, has been answering the call to feed the homeless for more than 30 years.
Paying customers enter her colorful restaurant on Rosewood and Chicon from the front door, order a meal, and are treated like instant family. Those who approach the back door with nothing in their pockets aren’t treated any differently.
“I want to do exactly what God says,” explained Stephens-Bell. “And He said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ And I don’t just feed them food; I also preach the gospel. And give them love, hope, and joy along the way.”
That’s why the Cajun queen was honored this morning at the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex in East Austin. Tyson Food, the Capital Area Food Bank, and representatives from both the Lege and City Hall gathered to proclaim Jan. 15 Miss Lola Meals That Matter Day. That ceremonial gesture was capped off by Tyson’s pledge to donate chicken to the restaurant twice weekly.
“I’m going to do a whole lot of soups,” said Stephens-Bell. “Gumbo. Fried chicken. Baked chicken. They’re getting it with pinto beans and rice.”
In addition to Tyson’s chicken pledge, the company also donated a truckload of food -- which, according to Tyson staff, clocks in at 35,000 lbs -- to the Capital Area Food Bank. That should be enough to serve 140,000 meals, and help at least a fraction of the nearly 1 in 6 Central Texans at risk of hunger every day.
“I want to thank Tyson for making this day possible,” said District 1 Council Member Ora Houston. “In times like this, it’s hard for such a generous donation to occur, so I want to give thanks to them for their thoughtfulness and generosity.”
The day’s ultimate prize was a much-needed addition to the Nubian Queen fleet: a bus that Stephens-Bell had been on the cusp of purchasing on her own, until her other bus broke down.
“As soon as I got $3,800, the transmission in my old bus went out,” she said. “So I called the man up to find out how much a new transmission would cost, and he said $3,800. So it took everything I had.”
The new bus is equipped with everything Stephens-Bell needs to keep the wheels on and rolling. Etched on the side are words that couldn’t be truer: “Y’all Know Who She Is.”
“I just thank God. God has given me the strength,” she said. “He has given me support. He’s sending his shepherds to come and help and donate to his flock.
“There’s too much government money that needs to be put in the right place. People need beds. People need furniture. People’s kids are coming home from school with ticks and lice and all kinds of stuff getting into the furniture. People are always leaving furniture outside. They’re always running out, telling me, ‘We need a sofa. We need a bed. My kids are sleeping on the floor.’ Yeah, that was good back in the day, but we don’t have to live like that anymore. We don’t have to do that anymore. We’ve got enough money in this city.”
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March 27, 2019
March 15, 2019
Nubian Queen Lola's Cajun Soul Food Cafe, Lola Stephens-Bell, Louisiana, Tyson Food, Inc., Steve Adler, Ora Houston