Elijah's Promise was established 23 years ago when the meals programs of New Brunswick’s Christ Episcopal Church, Emmanuel Lutheran Church and St. John's Episcopal Church were combined. Soon thereafter the original soup kitchen, Elijah’s Promise, developed into two successful programs: a culinary arts training program, Promise Jobs and a respected catering business, Promise Catering.
As these programs prospered, growth presented a new set of challenges centered in a kitchen too small to successfully house the soup kitchen, the culinary school and the catering business.
CityWorks, together with volunteer participation from Matrix Development Company, assisted in the conversion of an 8000-square-foot building at 411 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick which was purchased by Elijah's Promise in 2004. CityWorks provided technical assistance in the final planning and construction phases, building on the efforts of Matrix, which furnished planning expertise and pro bono design support.
The new structure now house offices, a training center, and kitchen facilities shared by Promise Jobs and Promise Catering.
Promise Jobs can now increase their enrollment and offer evening classes. Promise Catering can now provide more training job opportunities and generate more business.
ELIJAH'S PROMISE web site
