Word On The Street

Today’s Lunch was a wonderful Cheeseburger Wrap sided with Chips. A lunch always opens a door for wonderful conversation. Pictured here is Howie working on our Hire Ground Crew, while out working with the Team he was excited about finding his street! Its the simple things that can bring us Joy. We met Howie  in 2018 living outside and addicted, he is doing fabulous sober and living in his own place. He was part of our Hire ground crew and Carolyn pictured here loved on him and encouraged him continually and now we are seeing the fruits of her love. Carolyn s last day will be Friday and here are some of her thoughts

As I sit here on the eve of my final week with Hire Ground, I have so many images, faces, and names running through my mind. April 2019 seems like a lifetime ago and yet seems like yesterday. I truly did not know what was in store for me. I was so green, so naive! But I knew the Lord had equipped me and placed me there.

In reflecting over the past seventeen months, there were many days I felt I was walking through the wreckage of a war zone…wounded bodies and devastated souls. So many of our friends bare the scares of trauma, abuse, neglect, and loss. Many of them shared with me about the lack of love from those who were entrusted to care for them, failed systems that were supposed to support them, and the absence of those who should have advocated and rescued them. The scares, pain, and trauma left them seeking relief in alcohol and drugs. There were also some unbelievably bad days. Those days when I would learn of the passing of one of our friends. Some passed due to violence. Many passed from drug overdose. But, along with the pain, there was so many wonderful days filled with laughter and happy memories. As we spent more time together, trust would inevitably develop. Friendships would develop and my friends would share their hopes and dreams. I got to see many of our friends get housed and start to rebuild their lives. And I hope to see many more rebuild their lives.

To my friends: I love you all dearly! This is not, “Goodbye” just “See you in a little bit.” I cherish you all and the memories we have made. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for your friendship. You have made me a better person. I will continue to pray for each and everyone of you.

To my coworkers: What a privilege to have been a part of building such an incredible program. I love you all! Kat – thank you for your patience while training me. I have learned so much from you. For my dear sidekick, Kevin – my “boss” ? I cherish our friendship. Thank you for all the laughter, tears, and prayers! You are such an inspiration for our friends! Keep up the great work! JD and Paulette will be in good hands.

To John and Leigh-Ann: God has bound my heart to yours since day one. I cannot wait to see what He has in store for us in the future. I love you both! Thank you for being such good friends and bosses.

I love you guys. I’m not sure why the Lord has asked me to step down, but He has confirmed it over and over again. I sure am going to miss seeing you guys so regularly. I think this is going to be a challenging week for me. :'(

We Love Carolyn and she is pictured here training JD and Paulette. We are believing that as she pours into the new Team Members that the same Motivation of Love that she is investing in them will spill over to our friends outdoors.

Thank you everyone for your continued support, together Sous Chefs we are Building Hope and Changing Lives

JD started working at IMFK last week and has hit the ground running. Its been a deep introduction to street outreach and our Hire Ground program, its not just learning engagement with our friends but also the world of documentation and advocacy. JD has been doing intakes with our friends as well as sitting with someone for 3 hours to help make a police report with SPD on a assault. While waiting for SPD JD decided to pull out a deck of cards and play some rummy while waiting. The great thing about card playing is that it relaxes you and dialogue can begin. JD learned a lot about our friend while playing and was able to advocate with SPD and the agency that our friend was connected to. While working on Hire Ground one morning one of our participants asked JD if he remembered her? She recognized JD because she use to baby sit him when he was a child. What a small world at the end of the day I was able to see the both of them together talking and I could tell that JD was moved by the encounter. After the shift was over JD shared that he would have never thought that he would encounter one of his childhood babysitters  experiencing homelessness. One of the things that I have learned over the last 9 years if not for the Grace of God there go I. We must do whatever it takes to assist our friends outdoors and those living in our homeless shelters. Sous Chefs we at IMFK are making a difference thank you for your support.

John and Leigh Ann

Using your talents for others will always bring joy to your heart as well as a blessing to the person receiving your blessing. As a Chef there is no greater joy than to see someone enjoying a meal that you have prepared just for them. Today we made Kielbasa Sandwiches smothered with Onions, Peppers topped with Provolone Cheese and finished with LOVE. These Sandwiches were typical street food that you we would see sold on NYC street corners or sold in local delis through out our Country. As we delivered the meals today our friends would light up with excitement to receive one of these sandwiches. Very often our friends cant wait to dive in and eat, they will open the package right in front of us and chow down or bring it to their corner and start eating there. The great thing is that these awesome lunches are just a tool in our hands to continue dialogue as well as deepen our relationships with our friends outdoors. My talent is cooking and I love to feed our friends as well as get to know them better so we can truly understand what they need to get their lives back on track. If a meal brings us together for birthdays, holidays or other celebrations why not use it to bring our homeless friends to the Table were trust can take place. As we say in Italian ” Tuttia a tavola per Mangiare” translation ” Everyone to the Table to eat. Leigh Ann the Team and I appreciate your on going financial support together we are making a difference in our Community.

Using your talents for others will always bring joy to your heart as well as a blessing to the person receiving your blessing. As a Chef there is no greater joy than to see someone enjoying a meal that you have prepared just for them. Today we made Kielbasa Sandwiches smothered with Onions, Peppers topped with Provolone Cheese and finished with LOVE. These Sandwiches were typical street food that you we would see sold on NYC street corners or sold in local delis through out our Country. As we delivered the meals today our friends would light up with excitement to receive one of these sandwiches. Very often our friends cant wait to dive in and eat, they will open the package right in front of us and chow down or bring it to their corner and start eating there. The great thing is that these awesome lunches are just a tool in our hands to continue dialogue as well as deepen our relationships with our friends outdoors. My talent is cooking and I love to feed our friends as well as get to know them better so we can truly understand what they need to get their lives back on track. If a meal brings us together for birthdays, holidays or other celebrations why not use it to bring our homeless friends to the Table were trust can take place. As we say in Italian ” Tuttia a tavola per Mangiare” translation ” Everyone to the Table to eat. Leigh Ann the Team and I appreciate your on going financial support together we are making a difference in our Community.

Today was a scorcher during Hire Ground clean up around the community, the heat index was at 100 degrees! This crew of 6 awesome friends picked up over 900 Gallons of debris through out our community. Many have said that Panhandlers and Homeless individuals do not want to work but we have seen different. Week after week we go out and give those who our struggling and opportunity to obtain dignity through the sweat of their brow and the work of their hands. Our friends might not be to the point of obtaining regular employment because of many scenarios of brokenness but we encourage them and show them that if they can work a 5 hour shift with us during their struggles to imagine what could happen if they allow us to lead them to wholeness. Nothing is Impossible for anyone especially when you have someone standing in your corner encouraging you and advocating for your needs to be met. So after a hard days work Kevin and Carolyn treated our Crew to ICE CREAM, who doesn’t like ice cream? Together Sous Chefs with your support we are Building Hope and Changing Lives

John and Leigh Ann