Blog - The Kitchen

14 Aug 2023

Katelin’s Story: Affordable Housing Reunites Family After Being Homeless

Katelin (28) is a single mom with three children and a younger brother she cares for. She struggled with homelessness for many years before she found The Kitchen. Katelin recalls times when all five of them stayed in a single cramped hotel room. When things were really bad, her children went to live with their father. “I lost my kids...and I lost myself for a long time. I just now started recovering,” says Katelin. Finding Shelter Not being able to live with her children was hard, and she worked harder to get back on her feet. Katelin was referred to…

09 Aug 2023

The Kitchen Opens New Affordable Housing Development

The Kitchen will host a ribbon cutting on a new affordable housing development Tuesday, August 29 at 11am. The property, located at 550 N Duke Ave, is Maplewood Villas, a 44-unit affordable housing development designed for low-income and formerly homeless seniors—especially Veterans. The project is funded by the Missouri Housing Development Commission, MHEG, CRA Investments, the City of Springfield, and the Bank of Missouri. Maplewood Villas includes 44 two-bedroom, one-bathroom units for seniors 55 and older. All units are ground-floor accessible units. 11 units have been set aside specifically to serve homeless Veterans. A portion of units has also been…

28 Jul 2023

Corwin Automotive to Donate Portion of August Sales to The Kitchen

In August, Corwin Automotive will donate a portion of all vehicle sales to The Kitchen to help end homelessness in the Ozarks. Shop Corwin CDJR of Springfield, Corwin Ford of Springfield, and Corwin Ford of Republic for all your automotive needs. Visit Corwin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT at 3306 E Kearney St on Friday, August 18 10am-noon for a special event for the promotion. Tour the state-of-the-art dealership, learn about The Kitchen, and get a coupon for a free oil change while supplies last. For questions about the promotion, contact Albert Sandford with Corwin Automotive at (417) 862-9272 or…

20 Jul 2023

The Kitchen Awarded Grant for New Rare Breed Learning Center

The Kitchen has been awarded a grant from The Timken Foundation of Canton for the development of a new learning center at Rare Breed Youth Services. The Learning Center will be a place for youth to engage with critical life skills, education/job preparation, and housing intakes. The center will also be used for staff training and development. The grant will provide new technology including computers, tablets, a printer, and a projector; furnishings like tables, chairs, and a podium; online training materials for case managers; and two new air conditioning units to service the building. The learning center will expand Rare…

21 Apr 2023

Donate Items On Our Needs List

You can help turn a house into a home for someone in need. Donate items from our needs list to give people experiencing homelessness a fresh start! Drop off donations at 730 N. Glenstone Ave, Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Or call us to schedule a furniture pickup: (417) 225-7420. Items for Rare Breed Youth Services can be dropped off at 301 N Main Ave, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Spring Weather Needs Chapstick First aid kits Neck cooling wraps Rain ponchos, umbrellas Sunscreen/Aloe Vera/Bug Spray Hygiene Bodywash, shampoo, conditioner Brushes (new), hairspray Deodorant Hairspray Razors, shaving cream Tampons, pads Toothbrushes Underwear (men's & women's, new)…

19 Apr 2023

Reflecting on 40 Years

It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years. On Palm Sunday in 1983, Sister Lorraine Biebel took $50 and turned it into meals for homeless and hungry people in our community. The Kitchen has continued to grow from that day—through the vision and dedication of Sister Lorraine and the many blessings we receive from the community. Read more about our history of compassion in action. Sister Lorraine was a force for good in Springfield. She saw the need and worked tirelessly to meet it. I first met Sister when I volunteered at The Kitchen in high school. As part of…