SPRING NEWSLETTER 2026
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
Dear Friends of Miriam’s Kitchen,
I have to be honest with you. This was a hard winter.
Beyond the cold, many of our guests were navigating encampment sweeps that stripped away what little stability they had, all while housing vouchers grew scarcer and waitlists longer. The need was relentless. Our staff met people at some of their lowest moments and showed up for them every single day. So did you. This year, our donors gave more and our volunteers contributed more hours than ever before. I do not take that for granted. That generosity is exactly what our Spring Celebration is
INTRODUCING 2026 MIRIAM’S KITCHEN ADVOCACY FELLOW, HARRY ROBERTSON
Every year, the MK Advocacy team welcomes a guest with lived experience of homelessness to join the advocacy team. We were thrilled to welcome Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Resident Harry Robertson to the team in February!
Harry shares that he is excited to be an
I hope you will join us. It is one of my favorite nights of the year, and this year we have the privilege of honoring Tom Sietsema, the former Washington Post restaurant critic and a longtime supporter of Miriam’s Kitchen. Tom has given generously over the years and brought genuine care to everything he does here. He is exactly the kind of neighbor and advocate that makes this city worth fighting for.
Our theme is “Stronger Together, One City, Our Home.” For many of our guests, home is still something they are working toward. Your support, and your presence this spring, helps make that possible.
Hope to see you there! With gratitude, Scott Schenkelberg CEO, Miriam’s Kitchen
Advocacy Fellow at Miriam’s Kitchen to be a voice for people who can’t speak up for themselves.
“When I was matched with Miriam’s Kitchen, that was the best thing that ever happened to me. I don’t know where I would be without them.”
Welcome to the team, Harry!
BUDGET ADVOCACY –YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
This will be a difficult year for budget advocacy, and we need all the help we can get! Make sure you stay in the loop by joining The Way Home Campaign!
A BRIDGE TO HOME: TONY’S
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Antonie (Tony) Grimes describes housing like this: “When I have housing, I’m in a better state of mind. I have my own peace – my home is my sanctuary.” After many years without peace, Tony will soon have the sanctuary of home.
Tony Grimes (52) is from Washington, DC and he graduated from Ballou High School in 1992. Tony is a hard worker – he worked at a construction company during the day and at Popeye’s at night. After living with his mom for many years, he was finally able to get his own apartment in 1998.
In 2010 his whole construction crew was laid off and he soon lost his housing. For many years, Tony bounced around – staying with friends, sleeping in a tent, a few short stints in the DC jail. He just couldn’t get on track.
In 2019, Tony was matched to Permanent Supportive Housing. But one month before he was supposed to move in, his girlfriend was tragically killed. This rocked Tony’s world and he just walked away from the apartment. The grief was too much; he couldn’t cope. There were many more years of not having a home.
A year ago, Tony was living in a tent at Dupont Circle when he met MK Outreach Case Manager Ronetta Mitchell. She checked in with him every Tuesday and Thursday at a local breakfast program, helped him complete another housing assessment, got his paperwork going and kept him informed on his status with housing.
Finally, some good news came - on February 16, 2026 Tony moved into MK’s E Street Bridge Housing program. He really likes his E Street Case Manager, Ms. Crystian Luckey, and he checks in with her once a week. Together they are working on getting his Medicaid restored and also rematching his housing voucher so he can secure his own apartment.
“Living at E Street is cool,” Tony said, with a big smile on his face. “I know some people there. The Case Managers are doing their part and I’m doing my part. When I was living on the street, it felt like nothing was happening. But now, at E Street, I’m seeing real progress and I know my own place is coming soon.”
Guest Story / Bridge housing
E STREET BRIDGE HOUSING
Miriam’s Kitchen’s Housing-Focused Bridge Housing Program offers a stable, dignified environment for individuals experiencing longterm homelessness who aren’t well served by traditional shelters. Grounded in a housing-first approach, the program provides dormitorystyle shared rooms, trauma-informed care, and personalized support to help guests take meaningful steps toward permanent housing and lasting stability.
Tony Grimes and MK Outreach Case Manager Ronetta Mitchell.
MK E Street Case Manager Crystian Luckey and Tony Grimes.
Join us for an unforgettable evening at our Annual Celebration as we come together under this year’s powerful theme: Stronger Together: One City, Our Home. On May 14, from 6–9 PM, we’ll gather at Hook Hall to celebrate the strength of our community, the progress we’ve made, and the work still ahead to ensure everyone in our city has a place to call home.
This special night will bring together supporters, partners, advocates, and friends who believe in dignity, stability, and opportunity for all. Through inspiring stories, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to action, we’ll honor what’s possible when we stand united.
Save the date.
Bring a friend.
Visit our website to purchase tickets: miriamskitchen.org
Be part of building a stronger city — together. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.
TOM SIETSEMA TO BE HONORED AT MIRIAM’S KITCHEN’S 2026 ANNUAL CELEBRATION
When Tom Sietsema visited Miriam’s Kitchen, he didn’t just find a place serving meals to our unhoused neighbors — he found a kitchen where every plate is served with dignity, care, and hope.
As the longtime food critic for The Washington Post, Tom has spent decades evaluating the region’s finest restaurants and most ambitious culinary visions. But at Miriam’s Kitchen, what stood out wasn’t a tasting menu or a wine pairing. It was the intention behind every meal.
At MK, food is never just food. It is a welcome. A doorway to community. Often, it is the first step toward housing, healthcare, and stability.
For someone who has helped shape how Washington thinks about food, Tom recognized that Miriam’s Kitchen represents a different kind of excellence — not measured in stars, but in impact.
We are proud to honor Tom Sietsema at our 2026 Annual Celebration for his extraordinary career and his deep appreciation for the power of food to connect people and communities.
Join us on May 14 at Hook Hall to celebrate Tom and the work of Miriam’s Kitchen — and hear more about the story behind his visit and why our mission resonated so deeply with him.
EVENTS THAT BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER
From Trivia Tuesday to Bingo Night and many gatherings in between, Miriam’s Kitchen hosts a variety of events throughout the year where you can connect, have fun, and support our mission. Each event helps bring our community together while contributing to the work of ending chronic homelessness in DC.
Visit our Events page to see what’s coming up and join us.
RECIPE: Sticky Asian Chicken Wings
By Executive Sous Chef Brian
Ingredients
2 pounds chicken wings
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated 1 tablespoon sriracha (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels to help them become crispy during cooking. Place the wings in a bowl and toss them with the olive oil, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until they are evenly coated.
Arrange the wings on a rack placed over a baking sheet so the heat can circulate around them. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, turning the wings halfway through the cooking time so they brown evenly on both sides.
STRONGER TOGETHER: WAYS TO GIVE THIS SPRING
Spring is a season of renewal — a reminder that when a community comes together, change is possible. At Miriam’s Kitchen, our theme this year, Stronger Together: One City, Our Home, reflects the collective effort needed to ensure every neighbor has a place to call home. Here are simple ways you can support this work:
1. MK Club: Join the club and become the backbone of our support by giving each month.
2. Establish your own online fundraiser.
3. 70 ½ or older? Give from your IRA.
4. Use this QR code - or go to our website, send us a check, or initiate ACH/wire transfer!
5. Consider stocks or other appreciated assets.
Garnish
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 green onions, chopped
While the wings are baking, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Add the minced garlic, grated ginger, and sriracha if you want a little heat. Stir the mixture and let it simmer for about 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
When the wings are finished baking, transfer them to a large bowl and pour the sauce over them. Toss the wings until they are fully coated in the sticky sauce. Place them on a serving plate and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions or fresh herbs before serving.
6. Host an event to support us.
7. Double your impact: Go to our website to check if your employer will match your donation.
8. Assure your legacy: set up a planned gift.
9. Reach out if we can help!
Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Avenue NW Washington, DC 20037 Tax ID Number: 52-1331552
For more information, contact Catherine Francis at catherine.francis@ miriamskitchen.org or (771) 208-5553.
A VAN LED THE WAY
Recently we learned that the MK van is an excellent tool for volunteer recruitment. In early 2025, Elizabeth Louis retired from HUD and was looking for a place to volunteer. She was at the Safeway in Georgetown when the brightly colored MK van drove by and caught her eye. Intrigued, she went to our website, then her heart resonated with our focus on housing and the rest is history.
For almost a year, Elizabeth has been volunteering once a week in guest services. She shared, “At HUD, I helped to disburse over $3 billion in grants across the nation. But I find it much more fulfilling to disburse toiletries and clothing to our guests.” She went on, “MK is where the rubber hits the road. I just love being in the dining room where I have direct interaction with our guests, providing something that they really need. We provide meals, toiletries, case management and, most importantly, companionship.”
Now that she’s retired, Elizabeth has learned how easy it
Volunteer Highlight
is to feel isolated and how beneficial it is to be out doing something. And if she’s doing something that benefits people in need, well, to her, that’s just a win/win.
Elizabeth also supports Miriam’s Kitchen financially. Why does she give? Elizabeth said, “I donate to support and to make sure we can get what the guests need. And to make sure that we can sustain the supplies, space and staff needed to keep our programs going.”
There are many things that Elizabeth loves about volunteering at MK. By coming in weekly, she recognizes many of our guests and can connect and chat with them. Elizabeth also loves that MK has bilingual case managers, so we can support everyone who comes through our doors. And Elizabeth loves that she can take MK food home at the end of her shift. She doesn’t always take a meal, but she always grabs a dessert!
Elizabeth Louis in front of the MK van.
