The $200,000 grant will jumpstart House of Hope's proposed food-services training program at the Harrington Hall homeless shelter in Cranston
House of Hope has been awarded the prestigious “Neighborhood Builders” grant by Bank of America, a $200,000 contribution over two years that will jumpstart a food services job-training program at House of Hope’s Harrington Hall shelter in Cranston.
“We’re very grateful for all the work that House of Hope does, and you truly help those in tremendous need,” said Bill Hatfield, Rhode Island Market President for Bank of America, in presenting the grant at a Providence ceremony on Nov. 10.
“You’ve always been there for us,” said Jean M. Johnson, House of Hope’s executive director, saying Bank for America “has been part of our organization for 26 years, with grants year after year, with board members, with volunteers supporting our events.’’
The award comes as House of Hope is developing a vocational training program for homeless men and women, which is to be centered around the refurbished kitchen and dining areas at Harrington Hall, which is undergoing extensive renovation by the state.
Under the plan, shelter residents and other homeless people will operate the kitchen under the direction of a professional chef-educator, preparing meals for the 140 men who stay at the shelter. The training and work experience, in turn, will help participants gain jobs in Rhode Island’s nationally-recognized restaurants and related food services businesses.
A potential second phase would be a commercial cafeteria serving the Pastore center, which currently has no central restaurant for the hundreds of people who work at and visit various state agencies housed on the sprawling complex in Cranston.
“We’re very grateful for all the work that House of Hope does, and you truly help those in tremendous need,” said Bill Hatfield, Rhode Island Market President for Bank of America, in presenting the grant at a Providence ceremony on Nov. 10.
“You’ve always been there for us,” said Jean M. Johnson, House of Hope’s executive director, saying Bank for America “has been part of our organization for 26 years, with grants year after year, with board members, with volunteers supporting our events.’’
The award comes as House of Hope is developing a vocational training program for homeless men and women, which is to be centered around the refurbished kitchen and dining areas at Harrington Hall, which is undergoing extensive renovation by the state.
Under the plan, shelter residents and other homeless people will operate the kitchen under the direction of a professional chef-educator, preparing meals for the 140 men who stay at the shelter. The training and work experience, in turn, will help participants gain jobs in Rhode Island’s nationally-recognized restaurants and related food services businesses.
A potential second phase would be a commercial cafeteria serving the Pastore center, which currently has no central restaurant for the hundreds of people who work at and visit various state agencies housed on the sprawling complex in Cranston.