News Feed
- Published: 10 Mar 2020
Join us for our Third Annual Fashion with Compassion fashion show to benefit Providence Ministries!
Gary Rome Hyundai, 150 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke
Friday, May 8, 2020 6:00-10:00pm
Buy Tickets Here
For the 3rd year running, help us make it fashionable to be compassionate! Gary Rome is once again opening his doors and heart to the work of Providence Ministries. Cheer on ‘local celebrities’ like Gary & Jane Rome, Senator Eric Lesser, John Velis, Jim Leahy, Justin Roberts, and many, many more!
Doors open at 6!
The fun starts with a wine pull, a fantastic raffle, live auction preview and small plates by several local businesses, and ends with desserts by foodWorks. Stay for our fabulous fashion show, live auction, raffle pull, and DJ to dance the night away!
Ashley Kohl will emcee our night on the red carpet and lead our models down the runway.
On the Runway! 'Model' supporters of our life-saving work and true community partners. Help us cheer on: Senator Eric Lesser, John Velis, Jim Leahy, Justin Roberts, Gary & Jane Rome, and many more … and you will hear why they walk the runway to end hunger and homelessness and to support recovery.
#WhyIWalk - Follow the conversation on Facebook and Twitter
Fashion with Compassion sponsors are:
SPONSORSHIPS are still available. Please inquire at questions@provministries.org
Many thanks to our Special Events Committee for leading way: Kathleen Anderson, Community Benefits Manager, Holyoke Medical Center; Eileen Bresnahan, CIC, AAI, Bresnahan Insurance Agency, Inc.; Irene Costello, Marketing Manager, The Markens Group; Lynn McCarthy, Multi Screen Account Executive, Comcast Spotlight; Catherine Riley, Staff Accountant, Gary Rome Auto Group; Gary Rome, President, Gary Rome Auto Group; Lisa Wray, Director of Marketing, Holyoke Mall at Ingleside.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE…EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE.
- Published: 06 Dec 2019
Join Providence Ministries for a totally rad fun-filled event featuring game show showdowns between teams like E.N. White School vs. Lawrence School, and local celebrities like Mayor Alex Morse, WWLP Meteorologist Nick Bannon, City Councilor Jim Leahy, Rep. Aaron Vega, and more!
Friday, January 24th, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin
A night of your favorite throwback game shows: Password, Family Feud, and Price Is Right.
Your ticket to Retro Game Night includes Food, Fun, and so much more!
Tickets are $40 per person, or make it a winning night out with friends by purchasing a table of 10!
Upgrade to a VIP ticket for only $20 more and be entered in a drawing for your chance to play and win one of our fabulous prizes!
Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 413-536-9109.
Please RSVP by January 17th.
- Published: 04 Mar 2019
Friday, March 29 from 6:30-9:00 at the Delaney House
It is our privilege to continue the legacy of Sr. Margaret by meeting the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. This year alone, we served over 20% more meals at Kate's Kitchen; 79% increase in food and groceries provided to local families; and impacted even more lives through the foodWorks@Kate's Kitchen culinary training program than in years prior.
Tickets are $80 and can be purchased online or by calling 413-536-9109.
Proceeds to launch Providence Ministries' planned giving program in honor of Sr. Margaret's 80th birthday
Dinner choices are:
Chicken Florentine
Swordfish Parmesan
Gorgonzola Sirloin
Wild Mushroom Ravioli
- Published: 11 May 2018

"I have a job. I now have a car and it’s brought my family back together. I am forever grateful for Chef Ralph and Dalton and the Providence Ministries and Kate's family."
Rafael became a familiar face at Kate's Kitchen a few years back when his life spiraled during a difficult divorce and his family separating. Not one to keep idle, he found himself at Kate's for meals and to help out. Upon a move to Springfield he lost touch and was having difficulty managing the shifts of life. On the morning of his daughter’s sweet sixteen, she had one request: a cake. The one place he knew he could go was to Kate's. He picked up his bicycle, and rode over to Holyoke with high hopes. He not only found a cake, he was delighted to be packed up with takeaway peanut butter and jelly sandwiches along with some fruits and veggies.
While there, Rafael recognized a familiar face; Ralph Webb the Executive Chef of foodWorks@Kate's Kitchen. Rafael recalls vividly, "Chef Ralph looked me directly in the eye and said, 'I can get you a job.'" Rafael was intrigued and delighted that someone saw him—his full potential albeit his current struggle. Rafael not only left with the Sweet 16 cake his daughter hoped for; but a renewed sense of purpose as he promptly enrolled into the upcoming class of foodWorks@Kate’s Kitchen.
Rafael, a tenderly quiet man, is remarkably memorable no matter where he goes. FoodWorks' Instructional Chef Dalton Clarke, recognized something special in Rafael immediately and pushed him to realize his full potential; Rafael recalled that "Chef Dalton saw my drive and passion and I am thankful that he did." According to Dennis Henry, Executive Chef, Sheraton Springfield, who hired Rafael upon graduation from foodWorks@Kate’s Kitchen back in February 2018, "I saw that same drive in Rafael and it hasn’t stopped. In fact, he was recommended as Employee of the Month after only three months on the job. Most employees are not recommended until six years into the job…and it is a huge accomplishment to be nominated at all given there are over 250 employees."
When asked what was the most challenging of the foodWorks@Kate's Kitchen work, one could easily imagine that his answer would have included his daily bicycle trek from Holyoke to Springfield and back, for 13 weeks but not so. Rafael says the job interview was the most challenging; "Everything I had worked for, to get a job, depended on this."
Henry has been with the Sheraton Springfield for seven years and though a native, left the area for a while only to return to be closer to his family and grow his Sheraton Springfield team. He deems Rafael a great investment and continues to keep an eye open for foodWorks@Kate's Kitchen graduates to build his team. In fact, our ties to the Sheraton remain close ones, as Dalton Clarke is a former employee of Henry's and they continue to find ways to partner. In June 2017, our students joined in for the prep and presentation of the Springfield Union Station reopening.
Upon reflection, Rafael thoroughly enjoyed his foodWorks@Kate's Kitchen training and shared, "I have a job. I now have a car and it’s brought my family back together. I am forever grateful for Chef Ralph and Dalton and the Providence Ministries and Kate's family."
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