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Among the first people to arrive at the Project Place kitchen every morning is Joseph MacDonald. Starting out as an employment skills-training client, MacDonald joined Project Place’s catering business HomePlate to acquire some new job skills.
Now he is kitchen supervisor.
HomePlate, one of three businesses run by Project Place, prepares lunch for clients and staff at the organization every day and also does contract work with outside organizations.
Together, the businesses account for 20 percent of the revenue earned by Project Place. They also serve as a testing ground for clients who graduate from the 90-day job-skills program, but are not yet ready to join the work force.
MacDonald oversees a transitory staff. Clients are hired for six-month periods, then are expected to find work elsewhere. But their time in the kitchen gives them something to put on a résumé and offers real job experience.
A veteran, MacDonald likes to keep things orderly and disciplined. While his demeanor is stern, it is clear he has compassion for his staff and the clients the kitchen serves.
“I do everything I can to get them their self-esteem, to know they can go out and get employment and move forward in their lives,” MacDonald said at the Project Place dining area after his work was done for the day.
That is the first of two primary goals MacDonald has as kitchen supervisor. The other is to provide a wholesome and filling meal to all clients who walk into the dining area. For some clients, that will be the only meal they have that day.
MacDonald came to the program because he was not able to get enough work as an independent carpenter and was not able to afford an apartment of his own. He was referred through a veterans program. About 150 of the 600 served by Project Place in 2010 were veterans.
Now MacDonald has his own apartment and a job. While he might consider returning to carpentry, he may continue to work in food service, as well.
“Being in this program confirmed what I already knew: If you work hard, you can create something that never existed,” MacDonald said. “The position I’m in didn’t exist.”
Another person on track for a potential permanent position at HomePlate is Tonia Allen. Known for her personable attitude, Allen established HomePlate’s main contract with Codman Square Health Center.
But before she came to Project Place, Allen had been in jail because of a drug habit.
Among the first people to arrive at the Project Place kitchen every morning is Joseph MacDonald. Starting out as an employment skills-training client, MacDonald joined Project Place’s catering business HomePlate to acquire some new job skills.
Now he is kitchen supervisor.
HomePlate, one of three businesses run by Project Place, prepares lunch for clients and staff at the organization every day and also does contract work with outside organizations.
Together, the businesses account for 20 percent of the revenue earned by Project Place. They also serve as a testing ground for clients who graduate from the 90-day job-skills program, but are not yet ready to join the work force.
MacDonald oversees a transitory staff. Clients are hired for six-month periods, then are expected to find work elsewhere. But their time in the kitchen gives them something to put on a résumé and offers real job experience.
A veteran, MacDonald likes to keep things orderly and disciplined. While his demeanor is stern, it is clear he has compassion for his staff and the clients the kitchen serves.
“I do everything I can to get them their self-esteem, to know they can go out and get employment and move forward in their lives,” MacDonald said at the Project Place dining area after his work was done for the day.
That is the first of two primary goals MacDonald has as kitchen supervisor. The other is to provide a wholesome and filling meal to all clients who walk into the dining area. For some clients, that will be the only meal they have that day.
MacDonald came to the program because he was not able to get enough work as an independent carpenter and was not able to afford an apartment of his own. He was referred through a veterans program. About 150 of the 600 served by Project Place in 2010 were veterans.
Now MacDonald has his own apartment and a job. While he might consider returning to carpentry, he may continue to work in food service, as well.
“Being in this program confirmed what I already knew: If you work hard, you can create something that never existed,” MacDonald said. “The position I’m in didn’t exist.”
Another person on track for a potential permanent position at HomePlate is Tonia Allen. Known for her personable attitude, Allen established HomePlate’s main contract with Codman Square Health Center.
But before she came to Project Place, Allen had been in jail because of a drug habit.
Allen sought a way to get clean and to become more independent, which she found with HomePlate. She has worked with the organization for about two years and has been taking culinary arts classes in Chinatown.
“This keeps me motivated,” Allen said. “I’m happy that I’ve got a job, I’m not on welfare and I’m not just waiting on people to give me money. I’m making my own money and have experience.”
Tanisha Meranda has been working for HomePlate for nine months. She had started with a six-month position that was extended.
Out of work for nearly five years, Meranda decided to come to Project Place, but was told that there wasn’t enough room for her the first time around.
“I was discouraged, but I’ve been discouraged so much in life that it came to a point where I couldn’t let that happen anymore,” Meranda said.
She returned to apply again and was admitted the second time.
Going through the job-training program was difficult for Meranda, who was juggling other family responsibilities, but she decided she wanted to make the class an important part of her life.
Joining the kitchen has been a positive experience, she said.
“For the most part, we all get along and we also encourage each other and motivate each other,” Meranda said.
Paul Szafranski, food and beverage manager for Project Place, oversees both HomePlate and another of the businesses, Project Pepsi, a vending machine service company.
HomePlate is different from most companies because its bottom line is improving its workers rather than turning a profit. Profits are important, but not as much as providing job training, Szafranski said.
Other than the Codman Square Health Center, catering contracts are sporadic, but the kitchen stays busy providing meals for Project Place clients and staff.
Szafranski is continually impressed with his staff, particularly when they are able to improve their own situations.
“When you see a person move from dependency to being independent, that’s great,” Szafranski said. “You see a change in attitudes because they have more control over their lives.”
Staff writer Dave Eisenstadter can be reached at 781-433-8336 or deisenstadter@wickedlocal.com.
