John Tumino

Todays Lunch is made with Love in Memory of Maria. Maria passed away 1/31/18 and her Birthday was on 2/17. In her honor lunch will be sponsored by a wonderful Sous Chef (Lina) who is a great friend of Marias family as well as a Friend of IMFK. Todays Menu, Sirloin Steak and Bake Potatoes! I called Veda who is Marias sister to let her know that we would be honoring her sisters memory with todays lunch. When I shared with Veda the Menu she said “Steak was Marias Favorite”. Maria had a huge heart for the Homeless of CNY as well as anyone that she would come in contact with that felt Invisible. Maria you will never be forgotten and your legacy of assisting others continues. Maria you are Truly an inspiration to all of us that its really not that hard to help someone. Thank you for your big heart for the underdog.

John and Leigh Ann

We met Jared in April of 2013 when he was passing through town on his way to NYC. I encountered Jared when he was panhandling on the ramp of Route 81 heading South. Jared was in town for two months and while he was here we would see him twice a week feeding and clothing him. Jared stood out in a crowd because he had a nice size tattoo and his face that would cause folks to judge him but we used it as an opportunity for conversation. I remember Jared telling me stories of his adventures traveling the country by hopping trains. Jared had such a free spirited loving personality and before he left town he had me write in a journal he was carrying with him to document the folks he met while traveling. I wish I remembered what I wrote in the book, all I remember was that it was encouraging and had a spiritual twist in it. I received a message from Jared’s Grandfather David letting me know that Jared had passed away in January of 2014. David asked me questions regarding our encounters with Jared and said that he would be writing a book about Jared’s travels. Well I’m excited to share that the book has been released and IMFK is mentioned in it as well. Here is a video clip of Dave sharing about Jared and the Book.

Leave Out the Tragic Parts by Dave Kindred is an extraordinary investigation of the death of his grandson, and a powerful memoir of addiction, grief, and the stories we choose to tell our families and ourselves. Jared Kindred left his home and family at the age of eighteen, choosing to wander across America on freight train cars and live on the street. Addicted to alcohol most of his short life, and withholding the truth from many who loved him, he never found a way to survive. Through this ordeal, Dave Kindred’s love for his grandson has never wavered. Leave Out the Tragic Parts is not merely a reflection on love and addiction and loss. It is a hard-won work of reportage, meticulously reconstructing the life Jared chose for himself–a life that rejected the comforts of civilization in favor of a chance to roam free. Kindred asks painful but important questions about the lies we tell to get along, and what binds families together or allows them to fracture. Jared’s story ended in tragedy, but the act of telling it is an act of healing and redemption. This is an important book on how to love your family, from a great writer who has lived its lessons.

We met Jared in April of 2013 when he was passing through town on his way to NYC. I encountered Jared when he was panhandling on the ramp of Route 81 heading South. Jared was in town for two months and while he was here we would see him twice a week feeding and clothing him. Jared stood out in a crowd because he had a nice size tattoo and his face that would cause folks to judge him but we used it as an opportunity for conversation. I remember Jared telling me stories of his adventures traveling the country by hopping trains. Jared had such a free spirited loving personality and before he left town he had me write in a journal he was carrying with him to document the folks he met while traveling. I wish I remembered what I wrote in the book, all I remember was that it was encouraging and had a spiritual twist in it. I received a message from Jared’s Grandfather David letting me know that Jared had passed away in January of 2014. David asked me questions regarding our encounters with Jared and said that he would be writing a book about Jared’s travels. Well I’m excited to share that the book has been released and IMFK is mentioned in it as well. Here is a video clip of Dave sharing about Jared and the Book.

Leave Out the Tragic Parts by Dave Kindred is an extraordinary investigation of the death of his grandson, and a powerful memoir of addiction, grief, and the stories we choose to tell our families and ourselves. Jared Kindred left his home and family at the age of eighteen, choosing to wander across America on freight train cars and live on the street. Addicted to alcohol most of his short life, and withholding the truth from many who loved him, he never found a way to survive. Through this ordeal, Dave Kindred’s love for his grandson has never wavered. Leave Out the Tragic Parts is not merely a reflection on love and addiction and loss. It is a hard-won work of reportage, meticulously reconstructing the life Jared chose for himself–a life that rejected the comforts of civilization in favor of a chance to roam free. Kindred asks painful but important questions about the lies we tell to get along, and what binds families together or allows them to fracture. Jared’s story ended in tragedy, but the act of telling it is an act of healing and redemption. This is an important book on how to love your family, from a great writer who has lived its lessons.

We met Jared in April of 2013 when he was passing through town on his way to NYC. I encountered Jared when he was panhandling on the ramp of Route 81 heading South. Jared was in town for two months and while he was here we would see him twice a week feeding and clothing him. Jared stood out in a crowd because he had a nice size tattoo and his face that would cause folks to judge him but we used it as an opportunity for conversation. I remember Jared telling me stories of his adventures traveling the country by hopping trains. Jared had such a free spirited loving personality and before he left town he had me write in a journal he was carrying with him to document the folks he met while traveling. I wish I remembered what I wrote in the book, all I remember was that it was encouraging and had a spiritual twist in it. I received a message from Jared’s Grandfather David letting me know that Jared had passed away in January of 2014. David asked me questions regarding our encounters with Jared and said that he would be writing a book about Jared’s travels. Well I’m excited to share that the book has been released and IMFK is mentioned in it as well. Here is a video clip of Dave sharing about Jared and the Book.

Leave Out the Tragic Parts by Dave Kindred is an extraordinary investigation of the death of his grandson, and a powerful memoir of addiction, grief, and the stories we choose to tell our families and ourselves. Jared Kindred left his home and family at the age of eighteen, choosing to wander across America on freight train cars and live on the street. Addicted to alcohol most of his short life, and withholding the truth from many who loved him, he never found a way to survive. Through this ordeal, Dave Kindred’s love for his grandson has never wavered. Leave Out the Tragic Parts is not merely a reflection on love and addiction and loss. It is a hard-won work of reportage, meticulously reconstructing the life Jared chose for himself–a life that rejected the comforts of civilization in favor of a chance to roam free. Kindred asks painful but important questions about the lies we tell to get along, and what binds families together or allows them to fracture. Jared’s story ended in tragedy, but the act of telling it is an act of healing and redemption. This is an important book on how to love your family, from a great writer who has lived its lessons.

We met Jared in April of 2013 when he was passing through town on his way to NYC. I encountered Jared when he was panhandling on the ramp of Route 81 heading South. Jared was in town for two months and while he was here we would see him twice a week feeding and clothing him. Jared stood out in a crowd because he had a nice size tattoo and his face that would cause folks to judge him but we used it as an opportunity for conversation. I remember Jared telling me stories of his adventures traveling the country by hopping trains. Jared had such a free spirited loving personality and before he left town he had me write in a journal he was carrying with him to document the folks he met while traveling. I wish I remembered what I wrote in the book, all I remember was that it was encouraging and had a spiritual twist in it. I received a message from Jared’s Grandfather David letting me know that Jared had passed away in January of 2014. David asked me questions regarding our encounters with Jared and said that he would be writing a book about Jared’s travels. Well I’m excited to share that the book has been released and IMFK is mentioned in it as well. Here is a video clip of Dave sharing about Jared and the Book.

Leave Out the Tragic Parts by Dave Kindred is an extraordinary investigation of the death of his grandson, and a powerful memoir of addiction, grief, and the stories we choose to tell our families and ourselves. Jared Kindred left his home and family at the age of eighteen, choosing to wander across America on freight train cars and live on the street. Addicted to alcohol most of his short life, and withholding the truth from many who loved him, he never found a way to survive. Through this ordeal, Dave Kindred’s love for his grandson has never wavered. Leave Out the Tragic Parts is not merely a reflection on love and addiction and loss. It is a hard-won work of reportage, meticulously reconstructing the life Jared chose for himself–a life that rejected the comforts of civilization in favor of a chance to roam free. Kindred asks painful but important questions about the lies we tell to get along, and what binds families together or allows them to fracture. Jared’s story ended in tragedy, but the act of telling it is an act of healing and redemption. This is an important book on how to love your family, from a great writer who has lived its lessons.

We met Jared in April of 2013 when he was passing through town on his way to NYC. I encountered Jared when he was panhandling on the ramp of Route 81 heading South. Jared was in town for two months and while he was here we would see him twice a week feeding and clothing him. Jared stood out in a crowd because he had a nice size tattoo and his face that would cause folks to judge him but we used it as an opportunity for conversation. I remember Jared telling me stories of his adventures traveling the country by hopping trains. Jared had such a free spirited loving personality and before he left town he had me write in a journal he was carrying with him to document the folks he met while traveling. I wish I remembered what I wrote in the book, all I remember was that it was encouraging and had a spiritual twist in it. I received a message from Jared’s Grandfather David letting me know that Jared had passed away in January of 2014. David asked me questions regarding our encounters with Jared and said that he would be writing a book about Jared’s travels. Well I’m excited to share that the book has been released and IMFK is mentioned in it as well. Here is a video clip of Dave sharing about Jared and the Book.

Leave Out the Tragic Parts by Dave Kindred is an extraordinary investigation of the death of his grandson, and a powerful memoir of addiction, grief, and the stories we choose to tell our families and ourselves. Jared Kindred left his home and family at the age of eighteen, choosing to wander across America on freight train cars and live on the street. Addicted to alcohol most of his short life, and withholding the truth from many who loved him, he never found a way to survive. Through this ordeal, Dave Kindred’s love for his grandson has never wavered. Leave Out the Tragic Parts is not merely a reflection on love and addiction and loss. It is a hard-won work of reportage, meticulously reconstructing the life Jared chose for himself–a life that rejected the comforts of civilization in favor of a chance to roam free. Kindred asks painful but important questions about the lies we tell to get along, and what binds families together or allows them to fracture. Jared’s story ended in tragedy, but the act of telling it is an act of healing and redemption. This is an important book on how to love your family, from a great writer who has lived its lessons.

We met Jared in April of 2013 when he was passing through town on his way to NYC. I encountered Jared when he was panhandling on the ramp of Route 81 heading South. Jared was in town for two months and while he was here we would see him twice a week feeding and clothing him. Jared stood out in a crowd because he had a nice size tattoo and his face that would cause folks to judge him but we used it as an opportunity for conversation. I remember Jared telling me stories of his adventures traveling the country by hopping trains. Jared had such a free spirited loving personality and before he left town he had me write in a journal he was carrying with him to document the folks he met while traveling. I wish I remembered what I wrote in the book, all I remember was that it was encouraging and had a spiritual twist in it. I received a message from Jared’s Grandfather David letting me know that Jared had passed away in January of 2014. David asked me questions regarding our encounters with Jared and said that he would be writing a book about Jared’s travels. Well I’m excited to share that the book has been released and IMFK is mentioned in it as well. Here is a video clip of Dave sharing about Jared and the Book.

We met K-Dog with a lunch back in March of 2015, that was first contact but that is were our journey began. K-Dog was Homeless living outdoors addicted to drugs and spinning his wheels in the ever revolving door of addiction. We would see K-Dog panhandling week after week and would visit him in the place he would stay to keep himself warm especially in the winter season. We would love him encourage him and let him know that we believed in him and that there is a way out of this cycle and that we would assist him. When we started the Hire Ground day labor program K-Dog became a regular on the work van. During one work day we surprised K-Dog with a Birthday cake for his Birthday, we all sang Happy Birthday to him. He was so appreciative and surprised that we would remember his special day. On another occasion we found out that his Dad living in Florida was very sick and hospitalized, we asked him if he would like to go see him. We said that we would buy him the round trip ticket to go see his dad, he couldn’t believe that we would do that for him. The next week he was on a plane for Florida, when he got back he was so thankful for the opportunity not to just see his dad but his extended family. That’s what its all about at IMFK building relationships that establish trust. Well just after Thanksgiving of 2020 K-Dog said he was ready for a change and we were able to assist him into rehab with Helio Health. While he was there we made sure he had everything he needed from clothing to footwear. He completed a 28 day program and now is in a half way house to outpatient treatment. K-Dog is now volunteering with IMFK by assisting Kevin on Hire Ground off days and he even keeps are side walks shoveled at IMFK, what a Blessing. K-Dog is a person of Faith and has always served at a food pantry even during his  while out on the streets. Now that he is sober for over 60 days he is attendinaddictiong Church with Kevin right here on the northside of Syracuse. To see this mans determination to change is so powerful as Kevin says “You cant argue with the evidence”. A transformation has truly begun and we will assist K-Dog in whatever means possible to ensure that he stays on the positive tract. These stories are priceless you can not put a price tag on it but because of your faithful financial support days  and moments like this would not be possible.

Partnership is a great Key for the success of the work we do at IMFK. We were able to present Gary Crisalli from G.M. Crisalli & Associates inc 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. Gary and his team have been wonderful monthly supporters of our Mission as well as providing assistance and man power in our yearly 5k. On behalf of all of our friends outdoors and those that were housed we say thank you. Gary you and your Team are truly Homeless Hero’s!

Our Hire Ground Team was out shoveling sidewalks throughout the City of Syracuse last week. Kevin brought the Team to one location across from the old Central Tech High School to shovel around the park. To be out in the cold Panhandling to survive is one thing but to WORK to earn your way is another. Its all about a Hand Up not a Hand Out. The Team at the end of the day felt so accomplished and they came back to IMFK at the end of the day feeling like the accomplished and completed a mission. To be able to work for 5 hours and escape the noise that harasses our friends minds is irreplaceable. Instead of escaping the noise through drugs they escape by joining together as a unit working and talking about life. Thank you Paulette IMFK (Care Manager) and Kevin IMFK (Van Driver) for showing our friends they are not Invisible.