Adam Avin:
The sound of music… and people filled Palace theater on Thursday night for a fundraising event. In My Father’s Kitchen and Housecalls for the Homeless have been working together for 6 years… to provide extra help and medical assistance to those on the streets of Syracuse.
John Tumino:
“So, when we started doing this, it was just me out of my house. And as we evolved, we now have a team wrapped around us. And I was in these meetings with medical providers to figure out how to get medicine out to the street, because that was really vital for us as outreach workers.”
David Lehmann:
“I got hooked up into the various social agencies around the city and meetings and stuff. And that’s where I met John Tumino.”
John Tumino:
“And one day I just leaned over to Doctor Lehmann and said, hey, I already got the van. I already have the people that we’re working with. Would you like to just come out with me? And he said, yes, and he’s never left.”
Adam Avin:
In My Father’s Kitchen and Housecalls for the Homeless have a medical outreach team that travels the city of Syracuse every day in a van just like this one… so they can find people who might need medical assistance, so they don’t have to seek it before it’s too late.
John Tumino:
“So, before doc came along if someone had a medical need, I had no way of treating him other than bring them to the hospital. Right now, he could see them right there and triage them right on the streets. And sometimes it’s giving them their medication or wrapping a wound, and it’s done.”
David Lehmann:
“It’s transformative. And the really important part of it as well, in addition to providing the medical care, is that is the dignity that we can provide these guys saying, oh my God, you’re taking care of me right here in the moment, in their brokenness.”
John Tumino:
“One of the things I learned from doc is don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Is it a perfect medical scenario? Under a bridge… not necessarily, but it’s the right and good thing to do. And we’re going to do that.”
Adam Avin:
Tonight’s fundraising event will help make sure that John and Doc’s partnership can provide food, clothes, and medical assistance to the homeless for years to come… and continue to let people know they aren’t alone. Adam Avin, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – Two local organizations have come together to provide help to those in need. In My Father’s Kitchen and Housecalls for the Homeless have been working together for six years to provide medical assistance to those on the streets of Syracuse.
“So, when we started doing this, it was just me from my house. I was in these meetings with medical providers to figure out how to get medicine out to the street because that was really vital for us as outreach workers,” said John Tumino, the co-founder of In My Father’s Kitchen.
The first time Tumino helped somebody on the side of the road, was by bringing them a homecooked meal over 13 years ago. He remembers telling them “you are not invisible,” a phrase that’s stuck with him until this day. In My Father’s Kitchen was created shortly after.
In those meetings, Tumino met Dr. David Lehmann, a professor at Upstate Medical University. Tumino asked “Doc,” his nickname, if he wanted to join him on a ride around the city to find people to help. That was in April 2018, and they still love what they do.
“It’s transformative,” said Dr. Lehmann. “The really important part of it as well, in addition to providing the medical care, is that is the dignity that we can provide these people, and let them know we’re there for them.”
“Before Doc came along if someone had a medical need, I had no way of treating them other than bring them to the hospital. Right now, he can see them right there and triage them right on the streets. Sometimes it’s giving them their medication or wrapping a wound, and it’s done,” said Tumino.
In My Father’s Kitchen and Housecalls for the Homeless have an outreach team that travels the city of Syracuse every day in a medical van so they can find people on the streets who might need assistance.
The side of the van reads: “You are not invisible.”
