— Funds Allow Nonprofit to Continue Serving Fresh and Healthy Meals to Those in Need —
Jeff Griffin, Executive Director of Franciscan Center receives check from Craig Williams, Ph.D., Vice President, Johns Hopkins HealthCare & Special Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins University
The Franciscan Center, a nonprofit ministry, announced today the gift of a $20,000 grant from the Johns Hopkins Health Plans’ Corporate Giving Program to fund staff salaries and purchase healthy ingredients, including proteins for its culinary services.
The Franciscan Center offers a continuum of care that includes food, clothing, emergency health services, counseling, and technology training to help clients become as self-sufficient as possible.
The Center’s Culinary Services offer a pantry program, and a hot lunch program, which feeds 400-600 people daily at its W. 23rd Street location and local homeless encampments throughout the city. The Franciscan Center serves 99% of scratch food. The food cooked and served is fresh and healthy, with produce and proteins sourced from its own farm at the Shrine of St. Anthony, First Fruits Farm, and other local farms.
“Food insecurity is an area of focus for Johns Hopkins Health Plans,” said Craig Williams, Vice President, Healthcare Innovations and Management Solutions, Johns Hopkins Health Plans. “We are thrilled to support the Franciscan Center of Baltimore and its mission of providing healthy meals for those in need.”
“The Franciscan Center is blessed and truly grateful to be a multi-year recipient of the grant dollars we received from Johns Hopkins Health Plans. These funds will allow our organization the means to continue the amazing work our main kitchen does to provide fresh, quality, and healthy meals to our guests and clients daily,” shared Jeff Griffin, Executive Director, Franciscan Center. “It is our honor to serve our guests with grace and dignity to fulfill their needs.”
The Franciscan Center is currently in the midst of its Renaissance Campaign, a capital campaign with a goal to raise $3 million to support the major renovations of the existing building. The changes will allow the organization to operate more efficiently and serve additional people in need. For the first time in 25 years, the center is undergoing much-needed renovations including an already-completed warm, inviting dining room and a culinary training facility. The occurring second and final phase will focus on The Client Choice Pantry, Computer Access and Education Center, Clothing Intake Room, Responsive Services Center, and Mace Street Entrance.
The Franciscan Center is a nonprofit ministry. The mission of the Franciscan Center is to provide emergency assistance and supportive outreach to persons who are economically disadvantaged in an effort to assist them in realizing their self-worth and dignity as people of God. The nonprofit offers a continuum of care that includes food, clothing, emergency health services, counseling, and technology training to help clients become as self-sufficient as possible.
The Center’s Culinary Services offer a pantry program, and a hot lunch program, which feeds roughly 400-600 people daily at its W. 23rd Street location and local homeless encampments. The Franciscan Center serves 99% of scratch food. The food cooked and served is fresh and healthy, with produce and proteins coming from its own farm at the Shrine of St. Anthony, First Fruits Farm, and other local farms.
Additionally, the Center offers the Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy, a 13-week program – zero-cost culinary workforce training program. To learn more about the Franciscan Center’s services, visit www.fcbmore.org.
The Franciscan Center is currently undergoing its first major renovation in 25 years and has launched a capital campaign to help fund the changes. The center will offer a warm indoor dining room, client choice pantry, training kitchen for students in the culinary academy, computer lab and education center, clothing intake room, and a new Mace Street entrance.
