Expanded opportunities

Kitchen on a Mission has launched!

This week the director of the YWCA Women’s Business Center food entrepreneur program, Paul Mendoza, two trainees, and a Spanish interpreter toured Saint Philip’s commercial kitchen. They were joined via Zoom by several other students from Douglas and Sierra Vista.

Having a certified commercial kitchen is a huge accomplishment that took many months, and required much time and effort from a multitude of volunteers. It included developing strategic plans for expanded ministry, creating partnerships, writing grants, and updating the kitchen.

All this preparatory work makes it possible now for Saint Philip’s outreach ministry to reach more people in the Tucson community.

For example, the micro-food entrepreneurs from the YWCA pilot program can now work with Saint Philip’s Facilities Director, Myron Moltzen, to rent the kitchen for food preparation. Some of the budding businesses prepare and sell chiltepin salsa and pasteles (cakes).

This partnership with the YWCA of Southern Arizona was made possible through grants from the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and the Episcopal Church’s United Thank Offering.