John Tumino

Today was a great day for Hire Ground not only did they clean up our community they also received a Surprise Visit from Mayor Ben Walsh. The Mayor was passing through the City seen our work Crew and made a stop not just to thank them but also to encourage them and to let them know that He and the City are behind them. He encouraged them to stay connected and to take advantage of the services that Hire Ground can connect them to. He shared with them the origins of the partnership between the City, County and IMFK. When the Mayor was Deputy Commissioner he road out with Our street outreach and was able to meet many of our friends outdoors including our Friend Steve. Ben met Steve when Steve was living outdoors and was able to reconnect with Steve for a visit when He was running for Mayor after Steve made a move to come indoors. Fast forward two years and now Mayor Ben Walsh is a true advocate as a City leader in coming up with out of the box strategies to assist all our friends who feel Invisible. He was able to see first hand that true change is possible for our friends if we can just collaborate as a community for those who are suffering. Mayor Walsh we not only thank you for your support but we want to say thank you for believing in our mission to Build Hope and Change Lives

John and Leigh Ann

Ingredients
1 Jar Taste and See Pasta Sauce
4 cups (13.2 oz) cauliflower (7 1/2 green)
4 tbsp light cream cheese (4 condiments)
8 tbsp 2% Greek yogurt (4 condiment)
1/4 cup (.88 oz) minced green onions (1/2 green)
4 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese (4 condiments)
4 oz slices turkey bacon (1 lean)
4 oz reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese (1 lean)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C.

2. Cut out stem and core from cauliflower, and cut into small pieces.

3.Cook in large pot of boiling salted water until cauliflower is tender, but not overly soft. Drain well and mash with potato masher, leaving some chunks. Mix in cream cheese, yogurt, green onion, Parmesan, and 3/4 of the crumbled bacon.

4.Spread evenly in a medium-sized glass casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and reserved bacon.

5. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

6. Now Finish with Taste and See Pasta Sauce 

Its Not Just a recipe its purpose driven Meals when you purchase Taste and See Pasta Sauce 100% of the proceeds assist us in our Mission! Click on the Taste and See Tab on this page to find a store near you!

Working at the Onondaga County Lakeview Amphitheater today allowed our friends to obtain dignity while working. Partnership with our County and City has been vital in building stronger Relationships not just with our homeless friends but Panhandlers as well. The Hire Ground Program is geared towards engaging folks by not just working with in the 5 hour work day, we are doing assessments and a deep dive type engagement. Carolyn our Care Manager sits with every participant to find out what we can do to meet our friends needs whether its coming in off the streets or going to a rehab to get clean and sober. Some of our participants are not addressing there medical needs so we connect them to House Calls for the Homeless with Dr. Lehmann for their physical issues or we connect them to mental health providers through out our community. Collaboration is a real Key to our friends being successful in their personal journeys. Thank you for your support because of  YOU and our partnership we are truly making a difference in OUR Community!

Today we celebrate Steve’s Birthday and 5 years of sobriety and leaving homelessness behind. It was July 7 th 2015 3 days before his birthday when Leigh Ann and I were doing street outreach and came upon Steve in a real serious situation. Steve was laying on the ground in the sleeping back we gave him the week before. As I approached Steve I could see there was something not right. Steve looked up at me and said he could not feel his legs and that he has not been able to walk for 3 days. You can just imagine what that meant him laying there in his own waste broken drunk and trapped. We could not leave him there we called the ambulance followed them up to the hospital and stayed with him through the whole process. Steve’s blood alcohol level was 4.0 at emergency room. We worked with Social Work department at hospital and arranged for Steve to be transported to a rehab center upon discharge for physical therapy to make sure he could walk properly again. During the 4 week stay at rehab we made arrangements for him to get into housing. After the 4 weeks Steve landed in his own place and became our right hand man out on the streets of Syracuse. Now its been 5 years and 3 days from that event and Steve is reunited with his children and living in S. Carolina. Please celebrate with us on Steve’s Day by wishing Him a Happy Birthday.

What a Powerful Day on the streets loving on our friends who are experiencing homelessness. Today’s lunch consisting of a Cuban Sandwich allows us to treat to friends who were in pain. Our 1st friend accepted our lunch and was about to go back under the bridge when he spun around and asked sheepishly if he could speak with the Doctor. I said of Course that is why he is with us, to treat you! He proceeded to explain his symptoms and Doc diagnosed him with a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Doc was able to give him the meds he needed and we will be doing a follow up next week.

Our 2nd friend reached out to us today via a phone call and said he needed to meet up with us, we set up a time and location to see him. When we arrived he was sitting on the curb with a bloody swollen face. I asked him what happened he said he was jumped this morning by a couple of guys and was hit across the head and neck and was knocked unconscious. He refused medical treatment and did not want to go to the Hospital and was wondering around all morning and afternoon. We engaged him at 130 Doc was able to exam him and Anna (Med Student MS2) was able to clean up his face. Upon assessment he had 2 teeth that were knocked out a cut lip as well as a cut inner mouth. He still did not want to go to the Hospital but we were able to tend to his wounds, love and encourage him as well as giving him ointments, creams and some meds for his pain. Trust is the key to these encounters and it all starts with a lunch the opens a door to a relationship. Today’s Cuban Sandwich allowed these doors to open today. Big Thank You to YOU our Sous Chefs who continue to support our work. Together we are making a difference in the lives of those who feel Invisible.

John and Leigh Ann