September 24, 2024 — Delegates gave generously to this year’s Community Outreach recipient, In My Father’s Kitchen, a faith-based organization offering assistance to homeless people through direct street outreach.
Charities are selected by the host region, this year Region 4, and the PEF Convention Committee.
“Syracuse is one of the snowiest regions in the world. Homeless people are out there, and they won’t come in,” said Region 4 Coordinator Monica Moore. “That’s why we selected In My Father’s Kitchen. I was blown away by the generosity.”
In addition to the money raised by raffling the 15 gift baskets donated by Regions and Committees, the sock brand Bombas donated 500 pairs to the charity and members donated winter clothing.
Moore presented In My Father’s Kitchen co-founder Leigh-Ann Tumino with a check for $3,080 and Tumino shared how the charity began 13 years ago after her husband John encountered a homeless man holding a sign near Destiny USA.
“One day he was driving and saw a gentleman holding a sign and he noticed that nobody would look at this gentleman,” she said. “You didn’t want to make eye contact because then you were committed.”
Her husband went to Wegmans and bought the man food and water. When he returned, he parked and went over to talk to him.
“He unloaded his life history,” she said. “Abuse at home, bullying in school, getting in with the wrong crowd. My husband said, ‘I just wanted you to know that I see you and that God sees you and you are not invisible.’”
From that encounter, In My Father’s Kitchen was born. It’s about more than just food.
“Through our street outreach, we have found 372 people housing, with a staff of eight,” said Tumino.
The organization also partnered with SUNY Upstate to visit the homeless and provide medical care, created a program to give panhandlers the chance to work and earn money for their work, and more.
Click here for information on In My Father’s Kitchen.