Springfield, MO— The Kitchen, Inc. will be recognized as the Charitable Organization of the Year at Springfield Business Journal’s 2020 Economic Impact Awards. Leading companies and individuals in the Springfield area will be recognized on a live webcast on July 23, 2020 at 6:00pm.
The Kitchen works to end homelessness through four key programs: Rare Breed Youth Services focuses on the needs of at-risk and homeless youth ages 13-24 years old. Home at Last, funded through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs serves Veterans who are homeless or at-risk of experiencing homelessness. The Community Housing program works with local landlords to provide housing opportunities for families, individuals, youth, and seniors experiencing homelessness. The Emergency Shelter provides a safe place for individuals and families to stay before they can move into permanent housing.
The Kitchen has continued to house and serve those experiencing homelessness through several adverse situations, including a fire at the Donation Center last November, the theft of the catalytic converter from the delivery van in February, and adapting services in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since January, the Kitchen has served 452 people, 174 were children. The Kitchen is on track to surpass the total served numbers from 2019 (577 served, 205 were children).
The Kitchen, Inc.’s mission is to bringing stability and purpose to people who are homeless. Maintaining that focus has been possible thanks to community support, collaboration with community organizations that share our vision, dedicated teamwork among staff, and creative and flexible thinking to successfully maneuver the obstacles that arise to help people exit homelessness. To learn more, visit www.thekitcheninc.org.
