Rainbow Kitchen celebrates its 25th year of service to the Pittsburgh community this month, at a time when a new period of economic hardship means that the help the organization provides to families and individuals is needed more than ever.
The 25th anniversary will be marked with a dinner cruise on the Gateway Clipper on Oct. 10, 2009. Scott Lammie - UPMC Health Plan's Chief Financial Officer and a man who has been recognized in western Pennsylvania for his philanthropy - will be the event's guest speaker.
Rainbow Kitchen was founded in 1984 and was originally known as the Homestead Unemployed Center. The organization was established in response to the massive unemployment caused by the closing of area steel mills. Throughout its existence, Rainbow Kitchen has maintained its focus on helping families and individuals cope with inadequate incomes by addressing their immediate needs, offering guidance and support in times of crisis, and helping people work toward self-sufficiency.
Rainbow Kitchen has been seeing the impact of the current poor economy for over two years. During that span, monthly participation in its Food Pantry program has grown by more than 25 percent, the number of daily meals served has increased by nearly 35 percent, and the number of requests for short-term or emergency assistance has more than doubled.
"Rainbow Kitchen has been a strong and reliable source of aid for those in need for 25 years," said Lammie, who was honored by the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as one of the region's two outstanding volunteer fundraisers for 2008.
"In these troubled times, Rainbow Kitchen helps to provide a vital safety net for hungry children, struggling families, low-income elderly, ill, disabled, and homeless individuals, and growing numbers of unemployed and underemployed. We can only dream of celebrating a society in which its services would no longer be needed. In the meantime, we are fortunate that Rainbow Kitchen is here to keep up its valuable work."
Lammie is being recognized by Rainbow Kitchen for his philanthropic efforts, leadership, and accomplishments on behalf of people in need throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area.