San Antonio nonprofit receives $350,000 grant to continue nourishing and uplifting homeless community
Faith Kitchen in San Antonio, Texas didn’t know a planned Chick-fil-A celebration was actually for them.
Locally owned and operated Chick-fil-A® restaurants in Texas had reached a big milestone – 600,000 meals created through donations from Chick-fil-A Shared Table®, a program that allows restaurants to donate surplus food to local nonprofit organizations.
Through a partnership spanning more than a decade, participating San Antonio restaurants had created more than 200,000 of those meals with Faith Kitchen, whose executive chef uses donated Chick-fil-A proteins to make dishes like chicken parmesan and sweet and sour nuggets to serve more than 1,100 hot meals per day.
The nonprofit had also applied for a grant through the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards® program, which celebrates the work of impactful nonprofits making a significant difference in their communities.
Chick-fil-A, Inc. CEO Andrew T. Cathy, who attended the event, asked Faith Kitchen Executive Chef Lorris Gibson to join him at the front of the room. Chef Lorris had no idea what was happening next.
More than a Meal
Faith Kitchen is located on the South Campus of Haven for Hope, a transformational campus serving people experiencing homelessness in San Antonio. Each year, more than 5,000 individuals pass through where Faith Kitchen operates. In 2024 alone, the organization served more than 400,000 meals, an 11% increase from the previous year.
One of the organization’s most impactful initiatives is its Job Training and Life Skills program, which provides clients with hands-on culinary training and mentorship. Under the leadership of Chef Lorris, a former Faith Kitchen client, participants develop practical food service skills and build confidence and a sense of purpose.
With more than 15 years of culinary experience, Chef Lorris brings both professional expertise and lived understanding to his role.
“Faith Kitchen is about more than serving meals; it’s about restoring hope,” said Chef Lorris. “By teaching real skills and empowering guests, we help people move from homelessness to stability and purpose.”
The program’s impact is evident today: 11 of Faith Kitchen’s 12 employees are individuals who are transitioning from or have previously experienced homelessness.
A Decade of Shared Impact
While Faith Kitchen began partnering with local Chick-fil-A restaurants through Shared Table nearly a decade ago, Richard Gonzalez, local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Bandera Road, had already been involved with the organization. At the request of a Haven for Hope board member, Richard visited the organization’s kitchen to assess operations and offer guidance on how to scale its impact.
After learning about its mission, Richard came up with an idea for San Antonio restaurants to provide 500 boxed meals per month to feed Faith Kitchen clients. He took the idea to fellow Operators, who were in.
The market-level partnership expanded to include Chick-fil-A Shared Table. Today, nearly a third of local restaurants donate surplus food to Faith Kitchen. Three of those restaurants are locally owned and operated by Greg Patterson, who nominated Faith Kitchen for a True Inspiration Award grant.
“By providing three meals a day to anyone in need, Faith Kitchen is changing lives in profound ways,” said Greg. “Because of this grant, the organization will be able to continue making a lasting difference for individuals experiencing homelessness in San Antonio for years to come.”
A Big Surprise
“At the core of our business, we want to make a difference in the communities that we serve,” said Andrew Cathy as he kicked off the event.
Andrew, alongside local Owner-Operators who partner with Faith Kitchen through Chick-fil-A Shared Table, invited Chef Lorris to the front of the room.
After thanking him for the impact Faith Kitchen has in the San Antonio community, Andrew informed Chef Lorris Faith Kitchen was selected for a 2026 True Inspiration Awards grant. And not only that – selected as the S. Truett Cathy Honoree, receiving the program’s largest grant at $350,000.
With a “wow,” deep breaths and wide eyes, Chef Lorris was stunned.
With the help of its grant and continued collaboration with local restaurants across San Antonio, Faith Kitchen will continue serving with compassion and care, meeting needs, restoring dignity and moving closer to a future without hunger.
