The Shelter kitchen renovation is complete! We’re so thankful to our friends at Genesis Church in Carmel, IN for sponsoring this project.
When we meet orphaned youth, they’re often living at the margins of society. They’ve been rejected by their families, isolated, left out of the dance of community. During wartime, they’re especially vulnerable.
But at the Shelter, we invite these young people – especially moms in crisis – into the very heart of family life. Their isolation turns into belonging.
The Shelter’s central hub is, of course, the kitchen! It’s the hearth where youth and staff come together to be warmed and fed. It’s where mentorship gives our moms confidence to cook for their families. It’s a cultural center, where staff members teach orphaned youth the traditional recipes they’ve missed growing up.
A renovated kitchen means more space for everyone, and room to share! Our Educational Outreach girls’ group recently took a field trip to the Shelter (above). In the new kitchen, Anya taught the students how to make holubtsi, or cabbage rolls, a difficult but deeply Ukrainian dish.
And the old kitchen keeps on giving. The Shelter no longer needed the old cabinets, and former Shelter resident Alina didn’t have any. So, our Restoration Project crew installed them in the apartment where she lives with her little girl.
Thank you, Genesis, and thank you to all our friends for being part of the Shelter welcoming committee!
Would your church or small group consider sponsoring a renovation project?