We’ve Had a BOWL of a Time!

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Celebrating Two Decades of Empty Bowl!

Thank You for ALL the Support You’ve Given

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(PIHN’s 2018 Empty Bowl Dinner)

Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network’s 20th Annual Empty Bowl Dinner ushered in this Season of Thanks for PIHNÔÇÖs community of families, volunteers and supporters.. One attendee described the experience as ÔÇ£like being in a roomful of love.ÔÇØ The dinner was a feast for our eyes and bellies-with soups and desserts donated by 65 local restaurants and community groups, dished out in beautiful bowls donated from over 25 different pottery programs and clay artists.┬á┬á Even the beautiful floral center pieces were donated by two local garden clubs

Congratulations to PIHN alum, Erica Bush, on winning the shiny, red 2015 Toyota donated by Geico and Service King through the National Auto Body AssociationÔÇÖs Recycled Rides Program!

Many thanks to our host United Lutheran Seminary, and for all the tremendous assistance we have received from our Corporate Sponsors, Advertisers, Restaurant Donors, Bread & Cake makers, Home Bakers, Soup Schleppers and our 100+ volunteers! Kudos to our Empty Bowl Committee headed by our Queen of Soups, Cynthia LaLone, and assisted by LaVerne M. Jones and Shirlyn Swann. Shout outs to PIHN staff: Bob Byrne, Christian Gordon Scott, Emmanuel Philor, Deb Kish Silver, Keyonnee Thalia, who worked hard to promote the dinner and keep all running smoothly.

Arcadia EBD
(Arcadia University’s 2018 Empty Bowl Dinner)

Additionally, a BIG thanks to Arcadia University for hosting their own 25th annual Empty Bowl Dinner in support of PIHN 2 nights before our dinner on November 14th. It was a great week of pottery, fellowship and soup! Both events together, raised nearly $40,000 in support of PIHNÔÇÖs work to prevent and alleviate family homelessness.

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Check out the photos from the evening above and on our Facebook Page,
and we so look forward to seeing you next year!

There is TRULY No Place Like Home!

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(PIHN’s Ozzy 5k Runners)

Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network would like to give a huge THANK YOU to all who participated in our first annual “There’s No NPlace Like Home” 5k! It was so rewarding to see all of the Oz costumes in support of PIHN’s Homelessness Prevention Program. Since beginning our goal to raise $10,000, we are very pleased to announce that it has been far surpassed. This year, PIHN has raised a total $14,733 in funds to prevent homelessness in Philadelphia, and we could not have done it without you! Your steps have made milestones, and we couldn’t be more grateful for our AMAZING community!

Check out our Photo Album [HERE] and on our Facebook!

PIHN’s Flea Market Returns

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Back to School time can be very stressful for low income, hard-working families because of the need to make many purchases outside of their budget in order to ready their children for a new school year. PIHN Alumni decided to take matters ito their own hands by organizing a series of flea markets with all proceeds going toward purchasing uniform vouchers! We welcome the help of our community by donating household items, clothes, children’s toys and also by volunteering. Please contact keyonnee at (215) 450-0171 or keyonnee@philashelter.org, and feel free to drop by and shop too! Thank you so much for ALL that you do!

Future Dates To Be Announced.

College Guidance Added to Our Resources!

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Education 101:

College Guidance Added to Our Resources!

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We are always trying to update our resources tab for members of PIHN community to use depending on any given situation. In addition to tips about Wellness, Single-Parenting, and Youth Programs we have added a new set of sources that a specifically catered to picking the right type of higher educati0n and how to pay for it! Check out these resources as well as others that we continually make updates to by clicking the link below. If you have any resources, or programs to share with us, we will be more than happy to relay that info to the families that we serve!

Click to Visit Our Resources.

Spotlighting Aubree House – PIHN’s Young Poet

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One of PIHN’s very own, Aubree House, recently wrote a poem that was selected for presentation at the All City Oratorical Contest in celebration of Black History Month. In addition to grabbing a star role in her school play “Hairspray!”, Aubree is really putting her best foot forward and making us very proud! Read Aubree’s poem “Take a Knee” below.

Can we Take a Knee?

Can we take a knee and stand up for our rights?

Can we take a knee and stop all the fights?

Can we take a knee and realize black lives do matter?

Can we take a knee and save lives from being shattered?

Can we take a knee and realize for a second

Every single day some lives are being threatened?

Can we take a knee and stand up against police brutality?

I can’t believe our world has come to this very harsh reality.

Can we take a knee and stop all the hate?

Can we take a knee and begin to retaliate?

Can we take a knee and stand up for what we believe?

Can we take a knee and see what we all can achieve?

Can we take a knee and speak up when something’s wrong?

Not by yourself, but together … we are strong!

Can we take a knee and treat others with respect?

If you don’t … then think of all the people you might affect.

I’m saying this to you today, to tell you something true.

All the violence in the world … isn’t something new.

Can we take a knee and make this world adjust?

Can we take a knee, not just by myself, but with all of us?

Can we take a knee?

Aubreewritten by Aubree House.

PIHN’s Award of Recognition

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An Honor of Recognition

Receiving FUMCOG’s┬áSocial Justice Award

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Last week, Executive Director Rachel Falkove received the annual Social and Racial Justice award given by The First United Methodist Church in Germantown (FUMCOG) this past MLK day weekend. Also recognized for maintaining one of the most respected agencies in the city, this award is granted as an honor to those who cross racial or ethnic lines making significant contributions toward the resolution of issues regarding social and racial injustice. 

PIHN on the Hill – Thanks for a GREAT Holiday!

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Holiday Shopping with a Purpose

Wrapping up PIHN On the Hill Day

Chanukah “Carolers” on the Ave

Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality NetworkÔÇÖs community and supporters kept Chestnut HillÔÇÖs charming village shops filled with shoppers in support of PIHN On the Hill Day held December 10th this year! Proceeds went to the PIHN ChildrenÔÇÖs Fund, supplying school supplies, uniforms, winter wear, scholarships, learning programs, extracurricular activities and camperships for the children we support. Special thanks to our participating Chestnut Hill businesses – Artisans on the Avenue, Bohemian Pink, Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop, Chill on the Hill, Evergreen Cheese Shop, J. Mclaughlin, Iron Hill Brewery, Mango, Quelque Chose, Tavern on the Hill, Ten Thousand Villages, Threadwell, and Windfall Gallery for playing a huge role in spreading the spirit of holiday generosity in support of PIHN children!┬á

USG Shoppers

USG Shoppers

Our Community & a SOUPer Evening!

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To a SOUPer Evening..

Our Empty Bowl Dinner’s Success!

Empty Bowl Dinner 2017

Empty Bowl Dinner 2017

- Thank You -

The 2017 Empty Bowl Dinner was the BEST! We say that about each Empty Bowl Dinner, but this time we are not exaggerating!┬á It was well attended; our bowls were beautiful; the soups were delicious┬á and the desserts were fabulous!┬á Mike McGrath wasÔǪ.Milke McGrath, and the Philly Phanatic made us all smile! Congrats to Katie Pearson who won the 2015 Recycled Rides Hyundai Sonata!┬á

Many thanks to our host, United Lutheran Seminary, to our dinner host, Mike McGrath, to our corporate sponsors, advertisers, bowl makers, restaurant donors,┬á bread and cake makers, home bakers, soup shleppers and more than 100 volunteers. Special thanks to our hard working Empty Bowl Dinner Committee ( Cheryl Barber, Cynthia LaLone, Emmanuel Philor, Helene Broitman, Jamilla Mitchell, Lauren Casper, LaVerne Jones, Mel Strieb, & Shirlyn Swann). And an additional thanks to Arcadia University for hosting it’s own Empty Bowl Dinner on our behalf two days earlier! We raised community awareness of family homelessness and over $35,000 in support for PIHNÔÇÖs programs!┬á A very FUN and SUCCESSFUL┬á night!

Click Here to View the Rest of the 2017 Empty Bowl Dinner Photo Album!

Want to Help Out on Empty Bowl Day?

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Empty Bowl Dinner 2014

Volunteer for Our Empty Bowl Dinner!

Click the links provided below to sign-up for a role to play during the dinner. Your willingness to volunteer will ensure the success of this remarkable community event to combat homelessness! 

Greeters and Servers:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0E48A5AC2EA7F94-empty

Parking Assistants:
www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e48a5ac2ea7f94-empty1

Set-up/Clean-up Crew:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0E48A5AC2EA7F94-empty2

Can You Be a Souper Schlepper?

We are also in need of volunteers to run around and gather soups from local food donators prepared for the big night! If you are interested, please contact Rachel Falkove at rachel@philashelter.org or 215-247-4663 ext. 136

It’s Been Another Busy Year! – Annual Meeting 2017

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Our board, congregations and alumni gathered for┬áPIHNÔÇÖs Annual Meeting on Wednesday June 28th┬á┬áat Chestnut Hill Friends. ┬áFeatured speaker,┬áDaniel Farrell, Senior Vice President of HELP USA for Homelessness Prevention and Rehousing,┬áencouraged PIHN to move forward with efforts to focus on┬ápreventing homelessness before it begins.┬á┬áThe preliminary annual report was distributed and the members elected four new board members:

Cheryl H. Barber, BS, MS

With extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, Cheryl holds a Fundraising Program Certificate from the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.┬á Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, fundraising, development, strategic planning, communications, community outreach, and program development.┬á Cheryl currently serves on the board of the American Baptist Homes & Caring Ministries.┬á Throughout her career, she has held positions with several nonprofit organizations, including Germantown Friends School, Philadelphia Art Alliance, and Dunleavy & Associates. Cheryl was most recently Director of Development with Baptist ChildrenÔÇÖs Services.

Michael H. Novak, BS, 30 graduate credits in Industrial Psychology at Temple University

Having an extensive and varying career, Michael worked with General Electric and Franklin Mint as a human resources professional.  Mike was VP of Administration at Wells Fargo Alarm Services, has worked as an entrepreneur, and was Executive VP at Alternative Ways, Inc.  He is retired from Fluidics, Inc., where he held the position of Director of Sales and Marketing.  Mike has been affiliated with Saint Vincent de Paul Conference of IHM parish (Vice President) and is a Member of Friends of St. John the Baptist Parish in Manayunk.  He has been married to his wife, Rose, for 51 years, and has four children and six grandchildren in the Philadelphia area.

J. Jamillah (Jamie) Mitchell

Philadelphia native, Masjidullah member, A graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School and Howard University Alum., Jamillah has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, small business development, corporate training/development and quality assurance experience.  In 2003, while living in Atlanta, GA, Jamillah begin consulting with local businesses in need of part time Administrative and Executive Level Assistance, Human Resource Services, Grant Writing and Marketing/Public Relations. This part time, home-based, consulting business serves as the foundation for her role as Interim Administrator at Masjidullah.  Jamillah is also the proud mother of two children ages 12 and 18. Her son Zion, is a 6th grader at Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School (and an active Masjidullah Jawala Scout) and Zoee Monet, a Freshman at Community College of Philadelphia (and Masjidullah Madressa assistant).

Frank RobinsonÔÇï, BS, MBA, M.Div

Managing Partner of Kairos Development Group, has been a leader in the sustainable development industry for over eighteen years, working with government, private and nonprofit clients.  Frank has extensive experience articulating primary objectives for strategic plans, pursuing federal grant opportunities, revitalizing brands through online channels, and spearheading new programs. Frank has also written and managed over $40 million in federal grants/programs. He is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University with a degree in Political Science. He also has an MBA with a focus on Economic Development from Eastern University and a Masters of Divinity at Westminster Theological Seminary. He also holds several certifications including one in low-income Housing Tax Credit Management & Development. Frank is a licensed minister and currently serves as an Elder at Cresheim Valley Church.  He is married to Carolyn Crouch Robinson and has one daughter named Samantha whom is currently in high school.

Thank You Cathy Smith, Beloved Social Worker!

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Cathy Smith, long time PIHN Social Worker was celebrated for her years of dedicated service to PIHN upon her retirement. Three alumni families spoke movingly about their experience with PIHNÔÇÖs programs and about working with Cathy.┬á These included Tonia Harris, Andrea Jourdan and Fatima Wells. ┬áWe presented Cathy with a beautiful plaque, with her name in calligraphy; decorated by Jeanne Marie Todd.