inspiration cafe

Oscar winner Helen Hunt will get some primetime exposure at this year's Academy Awards, but you won't see her on the screen. The actress is turning the spotlight on the inspirational story of Lisa Nigro, a former police officer who began helping the homeless by serving them coffee and sandwiches, and later went on to found the Inspiration Cafe. Hunt has directed a 60-second commercial that will air during the Oscars, highlighting the inspiring story. Hunt previously stepped behind the camera for Then She Found Me which she also co-wrote. Off-screen, the actress/director has managed to stay below the Hollywood radar and get caught up in her real-life role as mother to her young daughter, Makena Lei.

Q: Was it a challenge to tell a story in one minute after you've directed a full-length feature? A: Actually, it was really fun and really inspiring to get a chance to do a little 60-second biography of a woman who is happy because she's feeding people. That's how she started helping others. We filmed Lisa serving breakfast in the Inspiration Cafe that provides support to the homeless with dignity and respect. That's how she began her mission, which has greatly expanded. Mother Theresa said something like, 'If you want to be happy, feed people.' I kept thinking of that as I watched her connecting intimately with each of these human beings as she was serving them breakfast.

Q: Even though it's a growing problem, it's easy to forget about the homeless because they don't really have a voice

A: There are people who just have gotten caught in a system that isn't working right. I think what Lisa has very successfully done is to look into the eyes of each human being and open her arms and her kitchen to them without considering how they got there or without judging them.

Q: Was there a lesson in it for u:

I guess it was to look for ways to be of service. Look for tiny ways and don't be afraid to remain anonymous. I think that you get a little something extra if nobody knows about it. I'm trying to keep that in mind. I don't think it's an accident that this commercial is made right now and it's getting all this attention. We're living in a time when people are waking up to the idea that being of service is something that nourishes you. r you?