HOMELESS SHELTER GETS RENOVATION
The two-week, $180,000 project is part of a 3-year, $3.5 million remodel
The Samaritan House in downtown hasn’t been remodeled in its 32 years of operation
Jeannie Kruse’s eyes widened when she spotted fresh Caesar salad on the Samaritan House homeless shelter’s serving table.
“Back in my real, regular life, Caesar salad was my absolute favorite food,” Kruse said.
The resident of the downtown Denver shelter loaded up her plate with catered cooking from local restaurant The Corner Office, including a baked Bolognese pasta, Brussels sprouts, shrimp fried rice, salad and homemade croutons made from focaccia bread.
The Samaritan House, located at 2301 Lawrence St., cooks up three meals a day for its 300 residents on top of feeding people in their women’s emergency shelter. But the facility never had renovated its kitchen in all of its 32 years of operation — until this month.
During a two-week renovation that started Aug. 13, major construction rendered the Samaritan House’s kitchen unusable. But shelter residents still counted on the 1,300 to 1,500 meals the shelter’s staff prepares each day.
Lisa Cooper, director of operations at Samaritan House, credited a community effort by local restaurants and businesses that stepped up to help put food on the table with getting the shelter through the overhaul.
On Wednesday, the kitchen looked sparkling clean with new appliances, fresh paint, improved flooring, different lighting and construction workers cranking out finishing touches.
The renovation cost $180,000 and is part of a three-year, $3.5 million comprehensive shelter remodel.
“A real update,” said Mike Sinnett, vice president of shelters for Catholic Charities, which runs Samaritan House. “It’s long overdue. But imagine a kitchen all the way down to the studs. If that’s your house, you’re either going out to dinner, or you’re going to someone else’s house to eat.”
The Samaritan House prepared for the overhaul by prepping meals beforehand and freezing them, as well as using kitchens at other homeless shelters to make food to bring back to the downtown shelter. The stress of figuring out how to feed a vulnerable population without a functioning
kitchen was offset by Denverites such as those working with The Corner Office restaurant who wanted to help.
The Rev. Valillian McGuire, who has been a resident of the Samaritan House for about a month, said The Corner Office’s meal was a blessing.
“I know beggars can’t be choosers, but I wish more of our meals here were like this,” said McGuire, noting her recent gastric bypass surgery and struggle to eat well. “There are those who are ill and children here who need access to quality food. This meal is exactly what I need.”
Luis San Martin, general manager of The Corner Office, and his crew dropped off enough food for at least 400 on Wednesday and stuck around while Cooper helped dish it up for residents.
San Martin beamed as residents thanked the restaurant owners for their contribution.
“It’s not just about filling their bellies,” San Martin said. “It’s also providing them with something nutritious. I think a lot of times we find ourselves donating things that are less costly. We wanted to provide something nutritious to their bodies and brains and their overall being — to give them something people need to get out of their situation they find themselves temporarily.”
Children, families, young adults, the elderly and the disabled stood in line to get their meals, just as they had done when Little Caesars donated pizza, the North of the Border Grill donated burritos, Shamrock Food donated two dinners and Pie Consulting donated Quiznos sandwiches.
Local restaurant Kachina Cantina was cooking up a batch of chicken enchiladas with red and green chile to be delivered Friday.
“Any chance we get to be able to lend a helping hand, we’re definitely going to do that,” said Denis Zvekic, Kachina Cantina’s executive chef. “We try to make time for the people in our community and let others know they can depend on us.”
If all goes according to plan, the construction should be finished Saturday, with the kitchen firing back up Monday or Tuesday.
In the meantime, residents who are experiencing homelessness expressed gratitude for the diningout quality meals many missed.
“This food is scrumdiddlyumptious,” Kruse said. “I used to work in the restaurant industry for 24 years, and I know good food. This is it, and I’m going to enjoy it.”