What’s happening
Kitchen Closure
The kitchen at the Mission’s Downtown Campus (425 S Tacoma Way) will be closed for much-needed, major renovations and expansion from April 29th to June 30th.
The Tacoma Rescue Mission has been serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness since 1912. In 2000, the kitchen we use today, known as “The Good Neighbor Cafe,” was built. It has provided our neighbors in need with hot meals every day since, serving almost 300,000 last year alone – each prepared and served with care, making sure each plate of hot, delicious, nutrient-packed food lets our guests know how much they are dearly loved.
The level of care that goes into each meal is crucial because we know that every meal is an opportunity to show someone they matter, to give them hope, and to connect them with the life-changing resources they need to overcome the barriers keeping them in homelessness. Every meal could be the vital first step toward a new life.
We have been so grateful for our kitchen and how the Lord has allowed us to utilize it well, but we recognize the urgent need for our facilities to be updated to meet the growing needs of our community.
A commercial kitchen serving three meals a day, 365 days a year would need to renovate or replace its equipment every 8-10 years according to some local restaurant owners. It’s clear that our kitchen is overdue for a remodel and we finally have the opportunity to move forward with not just a remodel but an expansion to meet the growing need of our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Please consider partnering with us during this crucial time.
Renovation and Expansion Plan
We’ve been hard at work with architects and contractors to expand and renovate spaces at the Mission that are vital in meeting the urgent and most basic needs of our vulnerable neighbors. This project will allow us to increase the number of individuals experiencing homelessness we serve so that more lives can be restored and transformed.
The Good Neighbor Cafe (Kitchen) renovation will include:
- Adding 1,000 square feet of space
- New commercial freezer and fridge
- Increased space for volunteers, meal preparation and food storage
- New kitchen appliances
- New ventilation, lighting and electrical
- New shelving, fire doors, and additional access points
- Level flooring and foundation
- Structural improvements
On top of our kitchen remodel, our renovation and expansion plan will include tripling the capacity of our Men’s Shelter and expanding our Men’s New Life Recovery facilities.
How You can support or get involved
Our Downtown kitchen serves over 800 meals a day to our neighbors experiencing homelessness and we are committed to providing crucial meals to vulnerable individuals and families amidst the renovation. But, we need your help.
donate food
The Downtown Campus Kitchen closure means we won’t have a space to prepare the over 800 meals we typically serve a day. We are looking for groups, churches, businesses, restaurants, individuals, and more to come alongside us and our hurting neighbors during this time by donating an entire, prepared meal or a portion of a meal.
volunteer
Sign-up to volunteer for a breakfast, lunch, or dinner shift at our Downtown Campus Kitchen. During our kitchen closure, your help is vital in making sure our neighbors in need continue to receive crucial meals each day.
give a gift
Give a financial gift to help ensure our neighbors get the nourishing food they need during our kitchen closure. Your gift will go towards purchasing prepared, hot meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the kitchen closure.
Kitchen remodel champions
Thank you to these local businesses, groups, churches, community members, and more for your crucial support in providing meals to our neighbors in need during the Mission’s kitchen closure.
Rock the Dock
Blazing Onion
Tacoma First Baptist Church
Islamic Project
Anchor Church
Theory Real Estate
Metropolitan Market
Fat Zach’s Pizza
Chick-fil-A
Skyline Presbyterian Church
Chapel Hill Church
Living Grace Church
First Presbyterian Church
