John Tumino

Leigh Ann Giving an update on the Life House project. What is Life House and Who is it for?

Who is Life House for?

Life House provides residential living to two women escaping from a life of prostitution. It is a home for women who wish to start a new life and are willing to do the hard work to make it happen.

What is Life House?

Life House is not a shelter or crisis center. It is a place of transformation spirit, soul and body. The women who are invited to live here will be those who have made the first step in uprooting themselves out of the toxic lifestyle they have been planted in. They will have the opportunity to re-plant in a loving, safe, and supportive environment.

What do we do?

Life House helps women transition to self-sufficiency incrementally, by providing a safe comfortable space conducive to building self-confidence. Each woman has her own story of trauma that has caused her much pain. Life House offers an “out of the box” approach in working with each woman and keeping her specific needs in mind.

How does it work?

Life House is a home where two women who have agreed to work through the Syracuse City Sex Trafficking court program are referred to by the court. After an interview, if both parties agree it is a good fit, they are invited to live in Life House and participate in the program. While in the home, the women will rest in the knowledge that they are safe and loved without strings.

Each woman will work in tandem with the Court and Life House programs, receiving support and assistance from the Life House Director and Resident Advocate. Building confidence and placing value in who they are is at the for front in empowering them to succeed.

Life House will assist each resident to create her own, “harvest plan” with short- and long-term goals. In addition, there will be a plan in place before she leaves to live independently. Personal safety and living plans, daily goals, and chores will be a part of living at Life House.

Where is Life House?

In an effort to protect our residents and staff the location will remain undisclosed.

Click Video for Update

Partnership is a great Key for the success of the work we do at IMFK. We were able to present Mike Nash from KS&R the Homeless Hero Award. This award is presented to individuals and organizations that go above and beyond the call of duty by bringing Value and Dignity to those who feel Invisible. Mike and his team have been wonderful supporters of our work, here is an overview of KS&R

Company Overview

KS&R is a global market research firm which works closely with clients in a range of industries to improve market position, increase returns on marketing investments, and to define and implement market entry strategies that get real results.

A few facts about KS&R:

KS&R is ranked #1 for the 9th consecutive year in a major industry study among market research buyers. We also rank #1 in data quality, analytical skills, on-time delivery, customer service, and value for money.
KS&R is among the top 50 U.S. market research firms.
KS&R was founded in 1983 and employs over 100 people across our headquarters location in Syracuse, New York, and staff locations in metro New York, Memphis, Seattle, and Frankfurt.
KS&R owns and operates INSITE, a full-service survey contact center.
Our services are based around dedicated business teams focused on major industries, including technology, telecommunications, transportation, healthcare/medical devices/pharmaceuticals, retail, and finance/insurance verticals.
Our experts include business strategists with client-side experience, qualitative specialists, and experienced analytic professionals.
KS&R conducts research worldwide. Our unified global data collection network ensures that every study reflects the appropriate cultural and political understanding. And our global tracking research services currently measure customer satisfaction and loyalty among stakeholders, salesforces, and customers in more than 120 countries and 50 languages, including many of the emerging nations across Asia, Africa, and South America.

Thank You KS&R for not only being Global influencers but local Community partners. On behalf of all of our friends outdoors and those that were housed we say thank you. Mike you and your Team are truly Homeless Hero’s!

John and Leigh Ann 

What a Great Day today as we were able to pick up a donation of hand sanitizer and travel pack size packages of tissue to be handed out to our friends experiencing homelessness from Staples. IMFK shops at Staples for office supplies and last week while we were in the East Syracuse store James Hart (General Manager) said that he would like to donate these supplies to IMFK. He knew of our mission and expressed how we assisted a family member of his when she was in homelessness back in 2011. When I asked who the family member was he said Michelle Noce. Michelle was the first homeless friend who passed away for IMFK, she was beaten on a corner and found dead under the bridge she was sleeping at. Here is link to article that ran after her death 

https://www.syracuse.com/news/2012/09/homeless_woman_found_under_syr.html

James and I talked about Michelle and ended are conversation both knowing the homelessness does not discriminate when it comes to families. Thank you to Staples, James and the enter staff for believing in our mission serving those who feel invisible on the streets of Syracuse. Together we are Building Hope and Changing Lives

John and Leigh Ann 

We met Kdog in March of 2015 when he was homeless and panhandling on Park Street by Destiny USA. Our relationship started with a lunch and unconditional Love. Kdog allowed us to interview him this week and wanted to share his story and thank all of you for believing in him.

Sous Chefs transformations like this are made possible by your continued financial support. On behalf of our IMFK Team we say thank you

John and Leigh Ann 

Food is a POWERFUL tool for us out on the streets of Syracuse. Not only does food satisfy hunger it also opens a door for conversation. Todays lunch was NY Strip sided with a loaded baked potato. When I was in the Food Service industry a meal like this would sell for $24.95, now its given away for FREE to someone in need. When we first meet someone with a lunch like this the conversation starts out like this “are you serious a steak and potatoes for me”? The response is of course YOU DESERVE IT! Our friends are blown away by the dignity and value that is brought to them from a hot fresh meal of quality. What ends up happening over a consistency of time is that the food becomes secondary and the relationship that the food started becomes the primary. Once this happens trust starts to blossom and the story behind the card board sign is revealed. These lunches are made possible because of YOUR generous giving to IMFK. With your continual support we are truly Building Hope and Changing Lives.