Our Story: Commercial Kitchen Renovation
Hearts for the Homeless® has nourished more than just stomachs. We’ve nurtured hope, fueled dreams, and helped to build a community where kindness isn’t just served, it’s celebrated.
For close to 25 years, the commercial kitchen at Hearts has largely remained unchanged and has been preparing meals to serve those in need year after year. In turn, impacting the lives of tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters.
From Humble Beginnings to Overflowing Hearts
Originally designed specifically for the Hearts Mobile Soup Kitchen, the kitchen became stretched to capacity and to its capabilities. As staff and volunteers prepared meals using donated produce and other items, the kitchen’s limitations were becoming evident. For years, our Mobile Soup Kitchen has been a beacon of warmth and sustenance for countless individuals struggling with homelessness and making ends meet. But its heart, the bustling commercial kitchen, was now facing its own challenge – keeping up with the ever-growing demand.
This renovation has the potential to double our meal services for Code Blue to include their day-time warming center and provide emergency meal services which can equate to 32,000 meals.
We stepped out in faith to take on a significant kitchen renovation project that will benefit the ministry and community long into the future.
Imagine More Than Just Meals
Visualize a kitchen pushed to its limits, crafting thousands of meals weekly. Outdated equipment, an inefficient layout, and weary walls that hindered our heartfelt efforts. We were poised for a transformative leap – a kitchen renovation to magnify our impact and continue to nourish the community through dignified service.
Building a Brighter Future:
Amplifying impact: Modern equipment will mean more meals, cooked faster and healthier, reaching thousands more each month.
Dignity in every dish: A spacious, hygienic kitchen that fosters an environment where volunteers and staff can work with pride and ease, preparing food that nourishes both body and soul.
Sustainability for tomorrow: Energy-efficient upgrades and improved plumbing will not only reduce our carbon footprint but also ensure long-term viability.
The Impact of Hearts’ Commercial Kitchen
Now, more than ever, our community needs our help. In 2023, homelessness was up by 35 percent in Erie County — the largest single increase in over a decade. The number of people being served through the Commercial Kitchen has increased significantly. In 2018, Hearts for the Homeless® served 5,138 homeless men, women and children. In 2023, we served 35,738 people through our Mobile Soup Kitchen and homeless shelter partnerships.
Showing Support And Respect Through A Sandwich: Little Portion Friary is supported with 40 sandwiches every week by Hearts for the Homeless®. Many people staying at the shelter do work. So oftentimes, they will use the sandwich as their lunch during work. Some men and women not staying at the shelter will knock on the door asking for food and are given a sandwich.
Click here to watch a short video about our impact with Little Portion Friary.
Shawna’s Story: While homeless for three years, seeking food and clothing, Shawna started visiting the Mobile Soup Kitchen regularly. “It was the only place where I truly felt like people cared about me and were concerned about me”, said Shawna. “I would come day after day for a meal and prayer.”
Click here to read more about Shawna’s story.
Compassion For Feeding Those In Need: During the January 2024 blizzard, the Buffalo Fire Department provided a Hearts staff member transportation so food could be provided to Code Blue’s warming shelter. Hearts for the Homeless® provided 4,350 meals directly to the shelters during the month of January.
Click here to read more about our efforts during the storm.
Future Impact
Over the years, Hearts has not only become a friend to those in need who benefit from our meal services, we have also formed strong partnerships with agencies and nonprofits that are doing life-changing work in our region. From homeless shelters and emergency community shelters to those who care for domestic violence survivors and children. The meals that are made in our kitchen reach far beyond our sphere of influence.
As we continued to grow, we saw the “old” kitchen stretched past its capacity and limits. We were facing a limit on how much more we can grow. With your partnership to help us bring this kitchen renovation into reality, you’re not only putting your “yes” behind all the meals we’ve served in the past, but you’re putting your “yes” to all the meals we can prepare in the future. We can now continue to increase our offerings with our existing partners and step forward with new partnerships as well.
We are excited to step forward with you on this journey. When we unlocked the doors of this new kitchen, we were unlocking a new level of potential for changing lives; one meal at a time.
Sponsors
Hearts for the Homeless is honored to have so much support from the community.
Diamond Sponsor
Hearts has been blessed to have M&T Bank as a Diamond Sponsor. Their generous donation of $68,664 helped support this renovation with building a brighter future.
Platinum Sponsor
Hearts is incredibly thankful to have Odd Fellow & Rebekah Benefit Fund, Inc. as a sponsor for the Commercial Kitchen! Odd Fellow & Rebekah Benefit Fund, Inc. supports individuals and programs committed to the enhancement of community. That is evident by their generous donation of $36,278 to help with this renovation.
Hearts is excited to announce our second Platinum Sponsor. We are incredibly thankful to The Soviero Foundation for their generous donation of $40,000 that helped with this renovation.
Gold Sponsor
Our first Gold Sponsor is Jenna Goldsmith for generously donating $20,000.
Silver Sponsor
One sponsor has given a generous donation of $10,000 and wishes to remain anonymous.
Bronze Sponsors
The amount of $6,000 has been donated by National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation.
Evans-Devereux Memorial Fund has become a sponsor by donating $5,000!
Frank’s Basement Systems has become our third bronze sponsor by donating $5,000.
One sponsor has given a generous donation of $5,000 and wishes to remain anonymous.
Thank you to everyone who has supported this project.
