Nourishing Bodies and Souls 
12 Suppers at The Center of Hope
The circumstances that lead families to homelessness are multiple and tragic. The road back to stability is often long and arduous. The Salvation Army of Greater Winston-Salem Center of Hope Family Residence provides a safe haven for Mothers, Fathers, Children and Single Women as they follow their pathways to self-reliance. The Center of Hope keeps its residents fed, clothed, and housed. It is the only such facility in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, NC.
Let’s be honest. On their best day, these families are in crisis. 12 Suppers at The Center of Hope sprang from an idea to help brighten the days of our resident families, to serve them nourishment for body and spirit. The idea was simple; what if a different local restaurant would prepare and serve the evening meal at The Center of Hope one day a month? Hence the title, 12 Suppers at The Center of Hope.
Each month a different Winston-Salem Area dining establishment gives the gift of their time, talent and culinary creations to provide a meal for the women, men and children who call The Center of Hope Family Residence home.
But wait, there’s more. In addition to serving a meal and giving residents, especially children, many of whom have long subsisted on a fast food diet, a treat they may seldom experience, 12 Suppers at The Center of Hope provides an educational experience also. The chefs and their staffs interact with residents, speaking with them about the dishes they are being served and talking about the culinary industry and career possibilities. The hope is that perhaps a mother or father in need will find a job that can help get them and their families back on their feet. And maybe, just maybe, a youngster enjoying a deliciously crafted meal will find themselves inspired to look to the culinary field as a future career choice.
Response in the culinary community of Winston-Salem has been extraordinary, to the extent that 12 Suppers has rapidly turned into 13, 14, and more Suppers at The Center of Hope. A veritable Who’s Who among Winston-Salem dining establishments have wholeheartedly pitched in with their support. Among them; Spring House Restaurant, Providence Restaurant, Jeffrey Adams on Fourth, Zoes Kitchen, Cherries Café, Village Tavern Hanes Mall, 4th Street Filling Station, Bib’s BBQ, Vin 205, Meridian Restaurant, Quanto Basta, and Texas Pete.
Comments from the chefs at participating restaurants include; Jeff Bacon, Executive Chef, Providence Restaurant, “Providence is proud to be one of the first restaurants to embrace 12 Suppers at The Center of Hope. We not only believe in the covenant act of breaking bread with our fellow Winston-Salem neighbors, but we have a special relationship with The Salvation Army that makes this opportunity even more special for us.”; Timothy Grandinetti, Executive Chef/Partner of Spring House Restaurant, “We are grateful to share the Spring House story and nourish souls!”
Major James Allison, Area Commander of The Salvation Army of Greater Winston-Salem expresses his gratitude for the partnership, “, “12 Suppers at The Center of Hope will be a wonderful experience for residents of our Family Residence. Not only will they enjoy a great meal, they’ll also be exposed to a career path they may never have considered and inspired to pursue a job in the restaurant industry. We are grateful to all the restaurants who are generously donating their food, time and talents this year.”
At its best, 12 Suppers at The Center of Hope serves much more than a meal. The generosity of the chefs and their staffs provide a giant serving of Hope!
The goal of Pit Stops for Hope is to defeat childhood hunger in the state of North Carolina.
Because no child should go hungry, Richard Childress Racing Pit Crews teamed up with The Salvation Army of Winston-Salem and Second Harvest NWNC to raise funds by auctioning off items every NASCAR fan should cherish.
100% of the donations received from various efforts go directly to feed those in need. Since June 2013, PS4H has donated over $90k to help food insecure NC families!
To learn more and see items for sale, visit the Pitstops for Hope website, visit them on facebook, or follow them on twitter.
NEW! State of the States Report 2015, by the Center for American Progress | Poverty and Opportunity in the States: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | By Rachel West and Jackie Odum, February 2016
The Summer 2016 Newsletter is out!
The State of America's Children - a Report by The Children's Defense Fund
Every Fourth Child ... Still A WRAL documentary on poverty in North Carolina
Salvation Army Today - a Weekly Video News Show (link includes subscription option) | Southern Spirit Online - an online news publication for the Salvation Army Southern Territory | Youth Down South - an online publication of The Salvation Army Southern Territory Youth | Young Salvationist Magazine - The Salvation Army’s online magazine for teens and young adults | SayRevolution - theOfficial vendor for Salvation Army gear
The Salvation Army Winston-Salem Area Command, P. O. Box 1205, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. 336.723.6366