After years of homelessness and addiction, Rich is building a new life thanks to Stone Soup PDX’s culinary training program and second-chance employment.
For Rich, the kitchen is a place of comfort and purpose.
“My dad was a cook in the Marines, so he taught us how to cook,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to be in the kitchen.”
Rich cooking in the kitchen of Stone Soup PDX’s culinary training program. Photo courtesy of Stone Soup.
After 24 years of struggling with addiction and homelessness, cooking is helping him build a new life. At Blanchet House, where Rich has been living for five months, residents are required to work in the kitchen for the first 90 days of their stay. They assist the chefs in preparing meals for the free cafe, which serves hundreds of people daily, struggling with poverty, addiction, and mental health issues.
How does he like it?
“The work requirement in the kitchen has been the most beneficial. It’s taught me a lot. You have to get up early and be consistent,” Rich says. “At first, it was hard, but I tell myself every day that in the end it will be worth it. The hard work will pay off. It takes time. It’s a good process if you let it.”
Rich cuts a green pepper in Stone Soup’s kitchen. Photo courtesy of Stone Soup.
Stone Soup Culinary Training Program
After completing his 90 days, Rich was ready to take the next step toward a job, but the path forward wasn’t simple. His checkered work history doesn’t look good to employers. That’s where Stone Soup PDX comes in. The non-profit offers a free 12-week culinary training for people facing barriers to employment.
Participants learn kitchen fundamentals, gain real-world experience, and receive support like a stipend and resume assistance. It’s a lifeline for someone in Rich’s position.
“I can’t blame nobody but myself. I made a lot of bad choices, and I can’t change that,” he says. “But I’m a really hard worker.”
Rich’s life has been shaped by hardship, and some would say he was unfairly set up for a struggle. He has experienced homelessness on and off since he was 18 and has faced addiction and deep loss. The youngest of nine, both of his parents struggled with addiction during his childhood. His mother died when he was a teenager, followed by the deaths of his father, sister, and brother. He later entered foster care and then attended a military school.
Simple Goals Hard Won
“When I turned 18, I got out of school, but pretty much everybody was gone, and I didn’t know what to do, so I went to the streets,” he shared. “My goals are to get a job, get a place, and get a car. I just want to get my life together.”
Simple goals for many, but far more difficult for someone with a complicated past.
With more than 20 years of kitchen experience, Rich is building on what he already knows while gaining new confidence. His long-term goal is to give back.
“I’ve been out there. I know how it is. My goal is to cook at a nonprofit and help people,” he says. “I love helping people. I encourage the newer guys at Blanchet House to hang in there.”
Day by day, Rich is building something lasting. Supporting people like him through programs like Stone Soup PDX and Blanchet House helps strengthen our entire community.
