“Spotlight of the Month: Brandi Vanover, the Devoted and Dynamic Manager of the Cardinal Cafe."

ksmith0454
Jun 7
7 min read

Howdy! I'm Kayla, and the series ‘Spotlight of the Month’ is my way of sharing the tales of the folks who make this mission what it is.

The laughter, the hard work, the faith—every person here brings their own special kind of magic. From the café to the classroom and everywhere in between, each staff member’s story is like a thread in the quilt of Red Bird Mission.

Each testimony here can inspire, uplift, and maybe even heal in unexpected ways.

So, grab a coffee, sit a spell, and get ready to meet the people who make Red Bird Mission something special.

This month's spotlight shines on Brandi Vanover, the devoted and dynamic manager of the Cardinal Cafe.

Brandi is the kind of person who instantly makes an impression—she’s spunky and feisty, with a kind heart that reminds you of an Appalachian auntie who always knows just what to say.

A "Hello Darlin" from Brandi can make your day much brighter.

Brandi is not the type to boast about her relationship with Jesus and doesn't try to fit into a mold, though her Baptist roots have shaped her in meaningful ways.

Instead, Brandi focuses on showing people the love of Jesus through her actions—whether it’s connecting with customers, offering a listening ear during tough moments, or pouring herself into the work she does at the cafe.

Her long hours and unwavering dedication don’t just keep the Cardinal Cafe running; they make it a place where every visitor feels a little more seen, a little more cared for, and a little closer to home.

If you've ever visited, you've probably seen Brandi in action juggling a dozen tasks with grace and grit.

During our interview, Brandi never stopped cooking. She shared stories about her time at the cafe, the highlights of her journey and how her faith quietly guides everything she does.

This spotlight is a glimpse into what she literally "brings to the table" everyday.

What inspired you to join Red Bird Mission in the first place?

Brandi replies, "The short is: It was close to home. The long answer is this: Six months after my mother passed away, I was returning to work and needed a workplace that would be understanding and more compassionate than most. I believed it would be a good match for me, and it has been."

"The support and the family I've found here have been incredibly helpful."

What's a typical day like for you at the Cardinal Cafe?

Brandi- "I usually come in around 7:30-8:00am every morning. I start by doing my prep work for the day and do my ordering, and anything extra that needs to be done before we open at 10:00am."

"As soon as we open, the phone starts ringing for orders. From 10:00am to around 1:30 is our busiest time of the day and its usually non-stop! Most of my days are spent in the kitchen cooking and cleaning up. I don't get to spend as much time out front spending time with and talking to the customers as I would like to."

I laugh as Brandi proceeds to say,

"I do occasionally get to give Bob a hard time, though."

Brandi says, "I love to make him cackle because I'm convinced he's going to lay an egg one of these days."

Bob is a Cardinal Cafe regular, for those who don't know!

"Wednesdays are when our work camp groups come to the cafe, which are awesome. I like the fact that now I am starting to recognize familiar faces out of the groups. Friday evenings we do the supper specials, I love getting to see our Friday regulars who have been faithfully coming for awhile now."

What's the most rewarding part of running the Cardinal Cafe?

Brandi- "Knowing that we really do make a difference here at Red Bird Mission.

"We may not be out doing physical work but what were doing here at the Cardinal Cafe, helps support the programs that are helping the people of the community. It makes me feel good to be of service to the community in this way."

If you could add one dream item to the menu, what would it be?

Brandi- "Short order breakfast."

"I would love for people to be able to come join us in the mornings, sit on a stool at the counter and order a coffee and some eggs.

I'd love for us to have the old school diner type of feel, where everyone can sit together, talk about the weather and read their newspapers."

"There are so many things that we could do, it just takes time and it is a process. I would love for us to be able to have the equipment and staff for short order breakfast."

Do you have a favorite story or memory from working here?

Brandi- "Pastor Steve."

"One day we had the Cardinal Cafe TV playing 80's music. As soon as Lionel Richie- 'Dancing on the Ceiling' came on, in walks Pastor Steve and he starts clapping and dancing all around the cafe.

"It was the greatest thing in the world, it made my entire day. I had only been here for a couple months, and although he hadn't known me for a very long time, he made it a point to come and give me a hug before he left."

"Joy radiated from Pastor Steve, he was a great person."

In your opinion; if the cafe were a person, who would it be and what kind of personality would it have?

Brandi laughs as she says, "Well, I know what kind of personality the cook has.."

She replies with the most perfect answer, "Dolly Parton."

"I think the Cardinal Cafe would be Dolly. The personality of genuine goodness and the willingness to help and take care of her people. You've also got to love the good sense of humor, and feisty attitude. There might even be a little Medea too."

"A mix of Dolly, Medea with some Proverbs 31."

Is there a moment at the cafe where you really felt God working through you or your team?

Brandi- We had a lady come in a few weeks ago. She had her son with her and didn't have the money to feed her son and herself.

She chose to feed her son, and she was going to go without.

Danny and I gave her a gift card to cover her meal, along with another gift card for a free meal on her next visit to the cafe. It was the first time we could truly help someone in a tangible

Kayla says: As a single mom who sometimes faces challenges, I can empathize with how discouraged the mother must have felt. Brandi and Danny's single act of kindness surely brought her a sense of relief. She will always remember it. The world needs more kindness and less judgement.

Is there a special Bible verse that inspires you the most in your daily work here?

Brandi- "Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God."

"This verse helps you when you're discouraged, if you're feeling like you're not good enough, not doing enough, and feeling overwhelmed. When you're feeling like you're not making a difference in the world; BE STILL and KNOW that GOD is GOD. He is in control and he has a plan."

She holds out her arm, proud to show me her sentimental tattoo of a small blue rose wrapped around the special bible verse that means a lot to her.

Brandi said, "the rose is for my mom, she never got to get her blue rose tattoo so I got it for her."

"The devil will fight you tooth and nail, he throw everything your way to try to make you give up. When I want to throw my hands up and ready to quit, God sends me Psalms 46:10."

"The verse has randomly showed up on my newsfeed while scrolling Facebook. My 'God's sillies goose' shirt order came with a message in the pocket that read Psalms 46:10." Brandi points to the back of the cafe, on the wall was a sign with beautiful writing that read "Be still and know that I am God." She says, "I was having a really bad day, and went to the Community Store and seen the sign, it was meant for me."

My jaw dropped at the coincidences in Brandi's inspiring story. In fact, these weren't "coincidences" at all.. they were signs, messages, just for Brandi, but for me too.

We all need this reminder in our lives every day. Be still and KNOW that I am God.

How does the Cardinal Cafe reflect Red Bird Mission's overall purpose in serving others?

Brandi- "We try really hard to be Jesus to the people we serve here."

"We're only human, and we have bad days, but we are always trying. We aim to be a, a kind face, a kind word, and most importantly, a listening ear.

We provide a safe and quiet space where everyone can come when they're having a tough day and simply need someone to talk to and to listen.

We treat everyone equally, with kindness, love, and respect, regardless of their appearance or title."

Brandi says, "Jesus didn't judge dirty feet, he kneeled down and washed them."

Amen Brandi, Amen.

How do you hope the Cardinal Cafe impacts the community?

Brandi- "I hope they can see the bigger picture and realize that they can truly make a difference."

"I want them to understand that each time they come here and enjoy a meal, they're also helping to feed someone else."

"Whenever someone buys a craft, they're contributing to building a porch for someone in need. Not everyone has extra money to donate to the mission or the time to volunteer, but I want the community to know that they can support our cause just by purchasing a drink at the café."