Nonprofit of the Year | Large: The Kitchen Inc.

Over four decades since the nonprofit’s founding by Sister Lorraine Biebel, The Kitchen Inc.’s mission remains the same, says CEO Meleah Spencer: to address homelessness, housing instability and the need for affordable housing within the local community.

Spencer says the past several years have brought challenges locally and nationally to nonprofit and housing sectors, including inflation, housing scarcity and federal funding uncertainty.

“That will be a challenge not only here in our own community, but obviously nationwide,” she says. “And while that is a challenge, it still is an opportunity for us here at The Kitchen, because we are going to remain proactive in continuing our advocacy efforts in building low-income, affordable housing.”

Those efforts by The Kitchen, which employs 39 and has over 350 volunteers, include expansion of its shelter at 1845 E. Chestnut Expressway.

The $5.4 million, 11,125-square-foot project under construction is adding 12 more apartments to the current 13-unit facility while introducing a basketball half-court to provide recreational opportunities.

Additional features include a laundry facility, computer room, playground, animal kennels and on-site case management services.

“We’re nearing the finish line, and if all goes well, we will be having a grand opening of that before fall starts,” Spencer says.

Aside from grants, the nonprofit’s funding strategy includes public funding, affordable housing development financing, private philanthropy and sponsorships. That financial support was evident for Eyes in Disguise, The Kitchen’s largest annual fundraiser, for which Spencer says a record-breaking total exceeding $300,000 was raised earlier this year. Eyes in Disguise has raised over $1 million since its 2003 debut, she says.

The nonprofit’s operating budget is over $4.6 million, and it served nearly 1,400 individuals last year through shelter, housing, youth and supportive service programs.

“We’re going to be housing and sheltering even more with our addition of our shelter and the more affordable housing that we grow,” Spencer says. “That’s something that this community can be really proud of because they’ve supported Sister Lorraine’s vision for 43 years.

“We’ll continue to be here until we can have our vision complete of ending homelessness in our community.”