John Tumino

Good morning John,

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your outstanding contribution to our Community Service class day last month at the CNY Community Foundation. As always, your expertise and leadership were exceptional, captivating the class and greatly enriching the entire experience. Several class members shared positive feedback on the insights they gained. Here’s what some of them had to say:

‘Listening to John Tumino was truly inspiring, and it made me really think about the way I react to seeing panhandlers on the side of the road. Every person is a “human and deserves to be treated with respect and not ignored.”

“I would consider John Tumino to be one of the best speakers we’ve heard this year. His personal experiences are inspirational.”

“John Tumino was fantastic! It was amazing to learn about what he does in the community. It has inspired me to help.”

 “Hearing from John Tumino left me with a different perspective and inspired me to use my own unique gifting and talents to further help support the community.”

John, your generosity in volunteering your time and support for LGS is genuinely appreciated. Your efforts have significantly enriched our program, and we are truly grateful for your dedication to our community.

Thank you again for your invaluable participation and commitment to LGS and our mission. I look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and further enrich our learning journey.

Wishing you a wonderful rest of the summer!

Robin Macaluso 

Program Director LGS

Empanadas with Love: A Delicious Collaboration!

What a wonderful day spent with Ada, crafting homemade empanadas filled with savory meat and cheese. Ada and her husband Pedro visited us last Friday, eager to connect with In My Father’s Kitchen and serve those experiencing homelessness.

When Ada shared her restaurant background, my creative wheels started turning! I invited her to join me in the kitchen, and together, we cooked up a Latino-inspired feast for the Streets of Syracuse.

With Pedro’s support, we shopped for ingredients on Wednesday and brought our menu to life on Thursday. Our friends were treated to a mouthwatering spread: two empanadas, accompanied by flavorful yellow rice. Pure delight!

Taste and See… the love and care that goes into every bite, and the joy of serving together!

John

Empanadas with Love: A Delicious Collaboration!

What a wonderful day spent with Ada, crafting homemade empanadas filled with savory meat and cheese. Ada and her husband Pedro visited us last Friday, eager to connect with In My Father’s Kitchen and serve those experiencing homelessness.

When Ada shared her restaurant background, my creative wheels started turning! I invited her to join me in the kitchen, and together, we cooked up a Latino-inspired feast for the Streets of Syracuse.

With Pedro’s support, we shopped for ingredients on Wednesday and brought our menu to life on Thursday. Our friends were treated to a mouthwatering spread: two empanadas, accompanied by flavorful yellow rice. Pure delight!

Taste and See… the love and care that goes into every bite, and the joy of serving together!

John

A huge thank you to Shannon Fleming from Marisa’s Fortress of Beauty for transforming our dear friend Karen with an incredible hair makeover! We’ve been supporting Karen, who was previously living outdoors, and recently helped her transition into a women’s shelter. Our care manager, Eliesha, encouraged Karen to get a haircut, and I knew just the person to call – the talented Shannon!

Many of you may recall Shannon from a previous post, where she hosted a garage sale to raise funds for IMFK. She’s a true champion and believer in our mission. We’re grateful for community members like Shannon who roll up their sleeves and share their talents and resources.

Karen was overjoyed with her new look and felt so thankful. If you’re looking for a skilled stylist, Shannon is the one to call! We’re so grateful for her kindness and expertise.

We’re overjoyed to announce that our dear friend Kurt has finally found a place to call his own! We first met Kurt in 2014 when he was living outdoors, but with your help, we were able to assist him in starting fresh in Florida in 2017. Although life took a difficult turn, and he returned to Syracuse during the pandemic, our IMFK team was there to support him every step of the way.

Kurt’s journey hasn’t been easy, struggling with addiction and making tough choices, but in 2024, things took a turn for the better! He expressed his desire for change and worked with our Care Manager, JD, to secure housing. We’re thrilled to say that Kurt has received the keys to his very own apartment!
Here is a quote from JD

“One of the privileges of helping people into housing is the time you’re able to spend with them along the way and hear their stories of days gone by. My friend Kurt has shared many stories about his travels all over the country, from NY to Florida, Michigan to New Mexico, and places in between. Part struggle and part adventure for sure. Now, after years of wandering and housing instability, he has a place to call his own. I’m grateful to see him finally settled and welcome him home.”

Now, our commitment to Kurt is to ensure he feels stable, secure, and confident in his new home. Over the next six months, we’ll be supporting him every step of the way to prevent recidivism and make sure he knows he’s not alone. With your continued support, we’re honored to have played a part in Kurt’s journey, and we celebrate our 371st friend coming home!”