By Lydia Beers
Pilot News Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — Homemade to Go was closed for two weeks in August, with this notation on their outdoor sign: “Out feeding our troops. Be back August 23.”
Although their most recent trip was to Fort Smith, Ark., owner Mary Beth Listenberger said that in the past six years, the company has traveled “everywhere from California to Florida and back” catering meals for U.S. troops.
Mary Beth and her brother, Robert Listenberger, work together in the restaurant business, following in the footsteps of their parents, Bob and Rosemary. Mary Beth recalls her parent’s earlier restaurant, Balloon Wurks, based on Bob’s interest in hot air balloons.
“Food service runs thick in our blood, it really does,” said Mary Beth.
Now, she and Robert own several KFC franchises in Indiana in addition to Homemade to Go and Hoosier Catering.
Feeding the troops, said Mary Beth, all started 10 years ago when the company started catering for National Guard drill weekends throughout Indiana. After some time of doing that, Hoosier Catering became civilian contractors with the military—something that is not easy to do, according to Mary Beth.
After showing that they met certain strict criteria, Hoosier Catering could then bid on military catering jobs. Robert spends much of his time seeking out bids and working on the particulars of the trips, said Mary Beth.
“When you are awarded these bids it’s a very big deal,” noted Mary Beth. “The contracts are this thick!” she exclaimed, holding two fingers several inches apart.
When the company gathers their staff to go on a military catering trip, they don’t always know what kind of conditions they will be working in.
“Sometimes we have kitchens, sometimes we cook out of mess halls, sometimes we pull our mobile kitchen,” said Mary Beth.
The staff sometimes cooks meals in extremely high temperatures. In Fort Smith, they prepared 2,200 meals a day in a kitchen that was 160 degrees.
“Our flexibility had to be extreme,” said Mary Beth, recalling “brown-outs” where power on the fort was shut down for a certain amount of time each day to lower the temperature.
“We kept everyone very hydrated, a lot of Gatorade, a lot of water,” continued Mary Beth.
Despite these hardships, Mary Beth said that servicing the military is more than worth it.
“We experience so much with those soldiers—occasions they are missing from home,” said Mary Beth, describing being with troops as they hear news from family. “Part of our job is to be there and listen to them” said Mary Beth, continuing, “I think that our staff has gained a huge appreciation for the military and what they go through. They are being deployed, but we are going home.”
Mary Beth said that she has no plans to stop taking military jobs. Her staff has become like family through their experiences, and they even try to stay in touch with some soldiers they have met through the Internet. Hoosier Catering has been to more than 15 states on military jobs. They also have a five year contract with the Navy Seals—and a different type of challenge as they attempt to meet the Seals’ strict dietary guidelines.
“Their training is intense and their meal plan is unbelievable,” related Mary Beth. “(With) the amount of food, you’d think we were serving the Chicago Bears!”
Mary Beth said that she and her staff enjoy the trips as they get an inside look into military activities.
“I had no idea the impact of the military,” said Mary Beth, adding that she always looks for someone with her last name—she has a second cousin, Alstin Listenberger, who serves in the military. Mary Beth said that the troops usually give a presentation showing their appreciation before her staff leaves to go back home.
“It means the world to us,” said Mary Beth. “As they are standing there thanking us, we are thinking, oh my gosh, we should be thanking you.”
Reprinted by permission of The Pilot News
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