Who We Are
Jubilee Kitchen is more than a place for a meal. It is where lives are restored, relationships are built, and hope is alive every day.
Located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Hill District, Jubilee Kitchen provides comprehensive support that nourishes, stabilizes, and uplifts the community. Open 365 days a year, we serve hot meals every morning and afternoon — but that is only the beginning.
Through person-centered programming, we help guests and neighbors meet immediate needs while building intentional paths toward self-sufficiency. From social services and housing support to employment coaching and early childhood education, everything we do is grounded in a simple belief: every person who walks through our doors deserves dignity, belonging, and a genuine chance to move forward.
Our Story
In 1979, Jubilee Kitchen began with $9.36, a deep conviction, and a willingness to act. Founded by Sister Thomasine Stagno, Lois Moio, Linda Wallen, and Sister Trinita Moio, the kitchen opened its doors in a modest storefront at 1608 Centre Avenue with one mission: to feed the hungry in the Hill District.
What started as a small effort to provide meals quickly grew into something much larger. Neighbors showed up — not only for food, but for community. Volunteers arrived. Partnerships formed. And over time, it became clear that the need extended far beyond the table.
Jubilee Kitchen responded. Programs expanded to include social services, housing support, employment coaching, health access, food pantries, and early childhood education through the John Heinz Child Development Center. In 2024, a major renovation transformed the facility — modernizing the kitchen, dining room, and support spaces to better serve the growing needs of the community.
Through every chapter of growth, the founding spirit has remained unchanged: show up for your neighbors, every single day.
Our Impact
The work of Jubilee Kitchen is measured not only in numbers, but in the lives of the people we serve. Still, the numbers tell a story of their own.
365
Days a Year
7am–1pm
Open Daily
45+
Years Serving the Community
1979
Founded in the Hill District
Every day, guests arrive at Jubilee Kitchen for a hot meal, a conversation, or help navigating a challenge they cannot face alone. Some come for a single visit. Others return week after week as they work toward stable housing, steady employment, or a fresh start.
The impact is cumulative and deeply personal. A guest who arrived in crisis six months ago now has an ID, a mailing address, and a plan. A family that was one utility bill away from eviction is still in their home. A child at the John Heinz Center is learning, growing, and preparing for kindergarten — while their parent takes steps toward self-sufficiency down the hall.
This is what comprehensive support looks like when it is built around real people and sustained over time.
Our Approach
At Jubilee Kitchen, we believe that meaningful support starts with dignity. Every program, every interaction, and every decision is guided by a person-centered approach that honors the individual.
We do not define people by their hardships. We meet guests where they are — with respect, without conditions, and with a genuine commitment to helping them move toward where they want to be.
Our programming is designed to work together. A guest might sit down for breakfast, meet with a social worker about housing, pick up groceries from the pantry, and drop off laundry — all in a single visit, all under the same roof. That kind of integrated, accessible support is what makes lasting change possible.
We believe that supporting neighbors today builds security for tomorrow.
Our Leadership
Jubilee Kitchen is guided by dedicated staff and a committed board of directors who share a vision of dignity, hope, and community.
Staff
Valerie Dixon
Executive Director
Woody Wilson
Director of Client Services
Nick Everett
Director of Finance
Yolanda Horton
Client Specialist
Quayla Fitch
Administrative Assistant
Terri Adside
Client Specialist
Jared Barth
Chef
Andrew Terrell
Assistant Chef
Gretchen Ambrose
John Heinz Child Development Center Director
Tianna Lofland
John Heinz Teacher
Kylee Sheerer
John Heinz Teacher
Board of Directors
Tom Bartnik
Board Chair
Becky Glimco
Vice Chair
Kathi McNeil
Secretary
Julie Bialkoski
Treasurer
Lois Moio
Founding Member
Sister Trinita Moio
Founding Member
Sister Thomasine Stagno
Founding Member
Tom Brice
Board Member
Eloise Davis
Board Member
Jim Evanoff
Board Member
Sally Haas
Board Member
Ben Murphy
Board Member
Terri Shields
Board Member
Sharon Sweeney
Board Member
Be Part of the Story
Jubilee Kitchen has been serving the Hill District for more than 45 years — and every chapter has been written by people who showed up. Your support, whether through giving, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, helps us continue this work for the neighbors who need it most.