John Tumino

A Story Of Hope

IMFK met Nakaa in September of 2022 living in an abandoned building, it was not until March of 2023 that I, Eliesha met her, and our connection was instant. Her birthday is one day after mine, which helped us make that initial connection. Like many friends we serve, Nakaa had braved times without a home and faced substance abuse, but her resilience made her eager to impact positive change and be an example to her community. When I asked her whether she would be willing to stay with one of her children she replied, “I am their mother, I should be taking care of them, not them taking care of me.” Her independence is crystal clear to everyone who knows her. From that point on, Nakaa and IMFK worked intensely with various organizations to better her life. She worked tirelessly no matter how tumultuous the journey often seemed. At the end of July, Nakaa was struck by a vehicle while walking along Old Liverpool Road. CPR was performed, 911 called and the damage to her body was extensive. I visited her often in the hospital to laugh and chat even when she was not able to communicate back. Nakaa is a fighter and day by day her condition improved against all odds, until she was healthy enough to be transferred out of the ICU, defying the very prognosis that was originally given by her team of physicians. Each week, I would visit her, and feel elated by the light I saw in her eyes. Her smile is big and beautiful. Nakaa’s loving family remained at her bedside and we worked conjointly to achieve the outcome we knew Nakaa desired: to be safe and secure. With the help of many thoughtful donations, IMFK was able to support her in her recovery journey by enabling the TV to be turned on for her long stay at the hospital and providing clothing, and shoes, along with some special sweet treats. Most of all we were a supportive presence and advocate when her family was not able to be there. Nakaa is now living with her son out of town advocating for herself and getting better daily. Even though she is no longer on my caseload, we still communicate, and I stay in touch with her family. Nakaa will continue to be an inspiration and example to myself and IMFK of how perseverance can bring about success and healing.

Eliesha (IMFK Care-Manager)

Thank you for your continued support, and for being the fuel that keeps our tanks full. In the New Year please consider becoming a recurring monthly partner or making a bold one-time year-end donation. Together we are Building Hope and Changing Lives

John and Leigh Ann Tumino
Co-Founder, Executive Director
In My Father’s Kitchen
315-529-3640

What a great feeling it is to assist our friends from the streets and into housing! C & H were living outdoors for some time and did everything they needed to get indoors. As Kevin says (IMFK Van Supervisor) “We can help you but you got to put in the footwork”. Well C& H did just the thing! The next step in assisting our friends is filling their fridge and cabinets with groceries provided by our partners at Abundant Life Church and providing the items they may need to make their house a home! It was a wonderful collaborative effort with the Housing and Homeless Coalition of CNY to make this placement possible. The journey from the streets is a process but our friends rose up to every challenge. T

Sous Chefs thank you for your continued support, please consider becoming reoccurring monthly partners or making a one-time year-end donation. Together we are Building Hope and Changing Lives 

John and Leigh Ann 

It was another great day on outreach partnering with Housecalls for the Homeless. We had Julia an MS1 student with Doc Lehmann learning all about compassionate care! Pictured here is Eliesha loving on our friend Sherman and his dog Deago. We will do whatever it takes to show our friends they are not Invisible. With your support, we are able to continue to serve those who feel like no one sees them. Thank YOU for your partnership!

We met Chris on the streets of Syracuse in the summer of 2020 while he was living under a bridge. Over the last three years, we loved on Chris with unconditional love (on the streets it’s called no strings). We were able to feed him, cloth him, and provide him with medical care through our partners at Housecalls for the Homeless. It has been a long journey, Chris was also a participant in our Hire Ground program that gives our homeless friends an opportunity to work and escape the grind of living outdoors. While on the work van, we are able to dive a little deeper into someone’s story with our care managers. During the work day, we find out many interesting stories as well as the real personalities of our friends. Chris had a huge personality, he was funny, loud, and intense at times. He was a straight shooter and would weave a great story. We were able to assist Chris into housing in the month of September with a wonderful collaboration of many agencies. Once housed we filled his fridge with groceries as well as provide him with items he needed, like a coffee maker, microwave, and hotplate. On November 10th, 2023 we received a call from Chris’s sister stating that he passed away. Chris was found in his apartment unconscious from an overdose. The paramedics tried for an hour to bring Chris back unfortunately to no prevail. We met the family at the apartment to go through Chris’s belongings, the family gave us the Bible that Chris used when attending churches in the area. We remember times when Chris was outdoors and wanted us to pray for him, we would and we would always encourage him that there was a better way. The family did a candlelight vigil in front of his apartment and we were able to encourage the whole family that Chris was never alone. When going through his Bible two verses were highlighted and written on an index card. The first one was Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. The second scripture was 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become brand new. I know Chris is in our future, and we will all miss him greatly but one thing I know, Chris is no longer in pain he is rejoicing in Heaven. So what do we do with the pain of Chris”s passing? We use it as fuel to continue to do the work of serving all those who feel Invisible. If you would like to attend the memorial service you are all welcome.

Christopher Michael Jarvis, age 51, a Syracuse native, died on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Chris was born on August 29, 1972. The son of Dianna and James Cornell, he was a skilled contractor and painter. Chris was always the life of the party. He enjoyed fishing and was a cat-lover. He was a passionate fan of Dale Earnhardt and Dale, Jr. You could always find him watching his favorite team play, the Dallas Cowboys.

He was preceded in death by his dad, James and brother, John Hagg.

Chris is survived by the love of his life for 30 years, Tina Jarvis; two sisters, Ann Martin (Bob) and Regina Filicia (Joe); Aunt, Roseanne Klein; two nieces, Amy Hagg and Angelica Martin; two Nephews, Johann Hagg and Bobby Martin. He will also be remembered fondly by several cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, friends, and acquaintances.

A celebration of Chris’s life will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 4 pm-7 pm at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 705 North Main Street, North Syracuse 13212, with a service to follow at 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to In My Father’s Kitchen, 501 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13203.

We met Chris on the streets of Syracuse in the summer of 2020 while he was living under a bridge. Over the last three years, we loved on Chris with unconditional love (on the streets it’s called no strings). We were able to feed him, cloth him, and provide him with medical care through our partners at Housecalls for the Homeless. It has been a long journey, Chris was also a participant in our Hire Ground program that gives our homeless friends an opportunity to work and escape the grind of living outdoors. While on the work van, we are able to dive a little deeper into someone’s story with our care managers. During the work day, we find out many interesting stories as well as the real personalities of our friends. Chris had a huge personality, he was funny, loud, and intense at times. He was a straight shooter and would weave a great story. We were able to assist Chris into housing in the month of September with a wonderful collaboration of many agencies. Once housed we filled his fridge with groceries as well as provide him with items he needed, like a coffee maker, microwave, and hotplate. On November 10th, 2023 we received a call from Chris’s sister stating that he passed away. Chris was found in his apartment unconscious from an overdose. The paramedics tried for an hour to bring Chris back unfortunately to no prevail. We met the family at the apartment to go through Chris’s belongings, the family gave us the Bible that Chris used when attending churches in the area. We remember times when Chris was outdoors and wanted us to pray for him, we would and we would always encourage him that there was a better way. The family did a candlelight vigil in front of his apartment and we were able to encourage the whole family that Chris was never alone. When going through his Bible two verses were highlighted and written on an index card. The first one was Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. The second scripture was 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become brand new. I know Chris is in our future, and we will all miss him greatly but one thing I know, Chris is no longer in pain he is rejoicing in Heaven. So what do we do with the pain of Chris”s passing? We use it as fuel to continue to do the work of serving all those who feel Invisible. If you would like to attend the memorial service you are all welcome.

Christopher Michael Jarvis, age 51, a Syracuse native, died on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Chris was born on August 29, 1972. The son of Dianna and James Cornell, he was a skilled contractor and painter. Chris was always the life of the party. He enjoyed fishing and was a cat-lover. He was a passionate fan of Dale Earnhardt and Dale, Jr. You could always find him watching his favorite team play, the Dallas Cowboys.

He was preceded in death by his dad, James and brother, John Hagg.

Chris is survived by the love of his life for 30 years, Tina Jarvis; two sisters, Ann Martin (Bob) and Regina Filicia (Joe); Aunt, Roseanne Klein; two nieces, Amy Hagg and Angelica Martin; two Nephews, Johann Hagg and Bobby Martin. He will also be remembered fondly by several cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, friends, and acquaintances.

A celebration of Chris’s life will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 4 pm-7 pm at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 705 North Main Street, North Syracuse 13212, with a service to follow at 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to In My Father’s Kitchen, 501 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13203.

Our dear friend makes it onto the medical van where Doc and His Student do their specialty, they bring value and compassion through medical relief. Leland’s nails were in bad shape and Doc was able to bring relief by trimming them down and setting up an appointment for a true foot soaking with follow-up treatment. Just think it starts with an idea for a meal that leads to conversation and then turns into medical care! This can happen only because of your continued generosity through your faithful partnership and monthly contributions.  As we approach the year-end please prayerfully consider making a donation to continue this wonderful outreach. 

Together we are Building Hope and Changing Lives