New Doors Are Opening
PRESS RELEASE
Gathering Industries Expanding Services; Renovating Kitchen Space at 458Edgewood
HomeAid Atlanta brought Skanska and H.J. Russell & Company to help Gathering Industries complete kitchen renovations
ATLANTA, July 13, 2021 – Gathering Industries, a nonprofit organization that strives to end homelessness one culinary job at a time, is renovating the commercial-grade kitchen space in the Community of Hospitality’s building located at 458 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA. Formerly the home of 458 Café, the kitchen requires system and structural upgrades.
As the kitchen renovation nears completion, HomeAid Atlanta stepped in to host a day of service with volunteers from Skanska and H.J. Russell & Company. The day was filled with team bonding, productive work, and delicious food provided by Gathering Industries.
“For more than 8 years, Gathering Industries has supported dozens of Georgians through intensive culinary skills training,” said Alex Reethof, Co-Founder of Gathering Industries. “Today marks a new chapter in our mission delivery journey. We are honored to be part of such a historic community and space.”
Once complete, the new kitchen facility will be Gathering Industries new home and allow the organization to continue its mission of training individuals to work in the food industry to help them find a way out of homelessness. This is just one component of the two properties located at 458 and 460 Edgewood undergoing a complete renovation to update systems and reconfigure interior space. Owned for over three decades by the nonprofit Community of Hospitality, these adjacent buildings have continuously served the community by providing office and program space for nonprofits working to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors in need. Once the renovation is complete there will be a new kitchen for Gathering Industries as well as a home for three additional nonprofit partners that will provide affordable housing, community organizing, and gathering space to make an even larger impact on the Sweet Auburn neighborhood located just blocks away from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center.
“It is a privilege to work with Gathering Industries and HomeAid Atlanta on this project that will directly serve people experiencing homelessness in Atlanta,” said Jimmy Mitchell, LEED BD+C Sr. Mechanical Estimator of Skanska. “Together with H.J. Russell & Company, we provided structural upgrades, primed, painted, and cleaned Gathering Industries’ new commercial-grade kitchen space.”
Photos and video interviews from the event can be found here. Interviews include:
- Amber West and Chris Hardaway, Gathering Industries
- Ryan Williams, Gathering Industries graduate sharing his personal story
- Jimmy Mitchell, Skanska USA
- Paul Bryant, H.J. Russell & Company
- Mandy Carter, HomeAid Atlanta
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Download a copy of the press release here.
For further information please contact:
Natalie Black, for Gathering Industries, 470.259.6525, [email protected]
Debbi Mayster, for Skanska, 240.988.6243, [email protected]
Mandy Crater, for HomeAid Atlanta, 404.408.0716, [email protected]
Egan Short, for Community of Hospitality, [email protected]
About Gathering Industries
Gathering Industries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that strives to end homelessness in Atlanta by helping the homeless help themselves. Through training and management skills programs, Gathering Industries educates homeless individuals in the culinary field to help them find sustainable employment and a way out of homelessness. In collaboration with a host of Atlanta restaurants and the Atlanta Mission, Gathering Industries works to give a hand up, not a hand out. For more information, please visit www.gatheringindustries.org.
About Skanska
Skanska is one of the world’s leading construction and development companies. In the U.S., Skanska’s core operations include building construction, civil infrastructure, and developing self-financed commercial properties, which together generated $8 billion in revenue in 2018. As a developer in the U.S., Skanska has invested a total of $2.3 billion in commercial and multi-family projects. With U.S. headquarters in New York City, Skanska has offices in 28 metro areas with 9,000 employees nationwide. Skanska is an industry-leading innovator in both safety and project execution and offers competitive solutions for both traditional and complex assignments to help build a more sustainable future for our customers and communities. Global revenue of parent company Skanska AB, headquartered in Stockholm and listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, totaled approximately $20 billion in 2018. Learn more at skaska.com.
About H. J. Russell & Company
Founded in 1952, H. J. Russell & Company is one of the largest minority-owned construction services and real estate development firms in the United States. A multi-faceted organization providing integrated solutions and an exceptional customer experience, Russell has developed, designed/built, renovated, and managed some of the nation’s most complex, high profile projects involving multiple stakeholders and requiring exceptional diplomacy and skill, including the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the HHRM JV and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture with Clark Construction and Smoot Construction. Visit hjrussell.com to learn more about the firm.
About HomeAid Atlanta
Founded in 2001, HomeAid Atlanta is a nonprofit organization that builds new lives for families and individuals experiencing homelessness through housing and community outreach. HomeAid builds, renovates, and maintains facilities for nonprofits serving people experiencing homelessness. Celebrating its 20th year of service in 2021, HomeAid has completed over 140 construction projects at locations for victims of domestic violence, teen mothers, veterans and more, utilizing connections with building industry professionals and community organizations. HomeAid also provides essential items like diapers, wipes, and hygiene products to those affected by homelessness. HomeAid is the designated charity of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Learn more at homeaidatlanta.org.
About Community of Hospitality
Founded in 1982, Community of Hospitality has been an intentional, interfaith community that practices creative, spiritual, holistic, and educational vocations; non-violent direct action; simple living; volunteer service; advocacy; and not-for-profit work in pursuit of justice. Community of Hospitality provides informal mentorship, small grants, and affordable space for justice-seeking, relationship-centered, not-for-profit work. Guided by living in a community with people impacted by homelessness, displacement, food insecurity, addiction, and trauma; Community of Hospitality seeks to be increasingly welcoming and inclusive so that individuals with varied lived experiences can flourish and become known to one another. Visit communityofhospitality.org to learn more.