John Tumino

The Morning of outreach days are always exciting, why you ask? The reason is that we get to make an impact into someone’s life and on outreach days it always starts with a lunch. The moment my eyes open in the morning I start to think about what I will go shopping for. This morning I looked at my phone and looked up the temperature in Syracuse, it said 28 degrees. Immediately Chicken Soup came to my mind and off we went to the store to buy the fresh ingredients necessary to make Chicken Soup. Being a Chef and seeing the power food has on our lives goes with out saying. We are always excited about providing a homemade meal to our friends, it brings a sense of dignity to someone who might feel hopeless. The awesome thing about making delicious lunches is that it provides an opportunity for dialogue to begin or to continue. Conversations about life leads to a relationship which opens a door for trust. Just think simple Chicken Soup opening a door into someone’s heart. One of the things I learned years ago is that your attitude determines your approach and your approach will determine success or failure, I’m believing that todays lunch will be a good approach with humility were we believe success will be born into someone’s life. Its all about Attitudes towards those who are suffering and with your support we are truly making a difference in our community.

Listen to K-Dog in his own words. Hire Ground is truly a Hand Up not a Hand Out!

Over the last Six Weeks we have received many requests from friends who are in rehab or recently housed asking for a Bible. Today Mark Warner host of the morning radio program at the Mars Hill Network reached out to us to inquire if we were in need of any Bibles. We as a team were discussing about purchasing Bibles for folks who requested one. When Mark reached out to us we knew that our prayers have been heard and answered. I always say that El Roi the God who sees knows what are needs are even before we ask. Our friends have been reaching out for Spiritual assistance and God has answered their request. Mark presented us with a case of 48 Bibles that we will be able to hand out to anyone who askes. To Mark and the Team at the Mars Hill network thank you for following your hearts to ask if we were in need, you were truly a God send to us and all those who feel Invisible.

John and Leigh Ann

Partnership is a great Key for the success of the work we do at IMFK. We were able to present Pastor Jordan Carter (Mission and Outreach Director) at Abundant Life Christian Center 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. ALCC has been a wonderful monthly supporter of our Mission as well as providing groceries to every individual that we get connected into housing. Over the past two years ALCC has provided groceries for 103 of our friends that were placed into housing. On behalf of all of our friends outdoors and those that were housed we say thank you. ALCC and the whole church family are truly Homeless Hero’s!

IMFK’s Day Labor Program Hire Ground in partnership with Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse is all about Giving folks experiencing homelessness a Hand Up not a Hand Out. Its all about Dignity through work and learning more about the story behind the cardboard sign. Last week we were able to connect with the landbank and assist in a clean out of an abandoned house (zombie house). Many times our homeless friends find places like this to sleep in at night but on this day they were all part of an effort to turn this property around so that they can be rehabilitated back to the tax roles. We see the parallel as our crews clean these places that are not meant for human habitation up so that they may be restored, just as we assist are friends who are broken, addicted and suffering from mental health to a place of restoration. While seeing our crew work together to clean out his house I was reminded of the Quote from the movie Collateral Beauty “Just make sure you notice the collateral beauty”. We see it often that beauty can rise form the ashes and as Paulette (care-manager) and Kevin (operations coordinator) work along side our crew members great conversations take place that we believe will lead to true transformation. Our crews will continue to beautify our great community and we are believing that they are sowing seeds of change into their own lives. Thank you for all your support, on behalf of all those who Feel Invisible we say thank you.

John and Leigh Ann