Project Description
The mission of the Phoenix Dream Center is to provide food, shelter and job training so that Phoenix’s at-risk youth, victims of human trafficking, homeless and needy families can discover their potential and put their lives back together.
This growing organization moved into a former hotel that would accommodate its growth but was woefully in need of repair. While working as volunteers, a local construction company recognized the dilapidated kitchen would require a complete remodel to fill its role as the heart of the group’s food and training outreach services.
This builder, its trades, its families and many others — including a leading local architect — worked days, nights and weekends to execute the renovation and coordinate code compliance. Generous donations and discounts from trade contractors and inclusive donation of all architectural work allowed 100% of the costs to be underwritten, relaying zero cost to the organization.
Thanks to more than 1,600 man-hours, the Phoenix Dream Center’s 1,200-square-foot kitchen in 2010 was upgraded to a 4,000-square-foot, high output meal center. Its capacity increased to more than 9,000 meals per week (1,000,000 annually) and space for an on-site job training program was doubled. We were honored to orchestrate this community kitchen into reality.