From struggle to calling.

Growing up in North Philadelphia, I experienced many of the same struggles that countless families still face today. We didn't always have the newest clothes or the things many people take for granted. There were times when opening the refrigerator meant wondering what we were going to eat. Yet somehow, by God's grace, we always made it through.

Those experiences stayed with me.

As I grew older, I couldn't ignore the needs I continued to see throughout our communities—families struggling to put food on the table, people experiencing homelessness, children going without basic necessities, and individuals searching for hope.

For years, I felt called to do something about it.

While reading the Bible, God placed Proverbs 19:17 on my heart:

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done."

That scripture became more than a verse—it became a calling.

The 19:17 Project was born from a simple belief: every person deserves dignity, compassion, and the opportunity to rebuild their life. What started as a desire to provide meals to people experiencing homelessness has grown into a vision for something much greater.

We are committed to serving our communities through food assistance, clothing drives, school supply giveaways, community outreach, and connecting individuals and families with resources that create lasting change. As we grow, our vision is to expand that impact through food pantries, community farms, soup kitchens, transitional housing, recovery partnerships, and other programs that help restore hope and strengthen lives.

This isn't simply about giving people a meal.

It's about reminding people they matter.

It's about restoring hope, strengthening communities, and serving others with the same love and compassion that God has shown us.

This is our mission.

This is our calling.

This is The 19:17 Project.