SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (September 20, 2017) – At The Kitchen, Inc., our mission in Springfield is to end homelessness. Our goal is getting more people off the streets, treat their problems, and get them into permanent housing. We know this will make Springfield stronger, with a larger, better work force and cohesive, healthy families.
For almost 35 years, The Kitchen has been serving our neighbors in need from our Commercial Street location. While the services we provide are not changing, our location is and the move signifies a new beginning for our organization.
On June 8th, The Kitchen, Inc. broke ground on our new two and a half acre O’Reilly Family Campus located on the corner of Glenstone and Chestnut Expressway. The new campus will consist of our new shelter and The Sam and June Hamra Family Support Services building. Completion of the 14-apartment shelter is expected late spring 2018.
In 2015, we launched a capital campaign to pay the cost of the campus construction. We are currently at 97 percent of our initial $4 million construction goal, but we’re asking the community to help us cross the finish line!
On September 20th, community members can help us build a pathway to ending homelessness by purchasing a commemorative brick. That gift lays the foundation for a stronger community and helps us reach our goal! Bricks range in price from $100 to $210 and may be purchased through The Kitchen’s website, www.thekitcheninc.org.
We are excited to have the support from all of Springfield’s broadcasters to help us raise awareness about this final push. In addition to running public service announcements about the New Beginning campaign, radio and television stations are giving time for live or recorded interviews with staff from The Kitchen and/or have committed to news stories on September 20th. Several print media outlets are also dedicating a story to this effort.
Together we will end homelessness in our community!
