Artwork from a local painter who wants to use her talents to help tell the stories of Springfield’s unsheltered community will be on display at The Kitchen’s open house Wednesday morning.
Pam Vowell told KY3 in April about how she thinks of the unsheltered people every day, trying to figure out ways to help. Then one day, she just started talking to them.
With their permission, Vowell painted several portraits in a series called “Home?”
She told KY3 that she wanted to find a way for her portraits to raise money to help the homeless.
That’s exactly what they will be doing at the open house.
The Kitchen is a nonprofit organization that provides housing, emergency shelter, and case management services to the homeless and those at-risk of becoming homeless.
Open house is Wednesday morning
The open house is 8:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday and will give supporters a chance to see inside the new O’Reilly Family Campus at 730 N. Glenstone Ave.
The O’Reilly Family Campus houses The Kitchen’s Emergency Shelter and the Sam F. and June S. Hamra Family Support Services building.
Vowell’s paintings will be displayed at the open house. Supporters can purchase them, with all funds going to support The Kitchen’s programs.
“Pam was meeting with our homeless friends in the community to hear their stories,” said Chris Ijames, director of development for The Kitchen. “She wanted to help give them a voice through her paintings.
“And throughout that (KY3) story, it was brought forth that she was interested in partnering with somebody to figure out how she can share these great stories of our homeless friends,” Ijames said. “It’s just a great partnership, and it’s really been great to work with Pam.”
If it’s ok with the person purchasing the painting, the artwork and stories will remain on the walls at the O’Reilly Family Campus as a way to educate the community about the realities of homelessness.
New buildings thanks to donor support
The Kitchen’s Emergency Shelter includes 13 apartments to provide emergency shelter for families. The Sam F. and June S. Hamra Family Support Services building is home to The Kitchen’s Community Housing and Home at Last programs, housing operations office, donation center, and administrative offices.
“We’d like to thank the O’Reilly family and the Sam and June Hamra family and all the other donors for their support,” Ijames said, “to allow us to have this amazing O’Reilly Family Campus and our Emergency Shelter and have the Sam F. and June S. Hamra Support Services building.
“Without the support of them and our amazing donors, we would not be able to have the facility we have today to be able to serve the community and help individuals that are homeless.”
