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KGUN 9 Tucson News
The Giving Project: How one woman got her life back through culinary arts
By Pat Parris,
2 days ago
From helping foster kids to feeding 100,000 people across Tucson every year, GAP Ministries changes lives in many ways.
I spoke with one graduate of the nonprofit's culinary arts certification program, whose life has changed for the better over the course of a single year with GAP Ministries.
GAP Ministries Annette Medina, a GAP Ministries Culinary Arts program graduate, said of the program, "It had a huge impact on my life. Since the day I got here I've never left."
Annette Medina got to GAP Ministries a year ago. A single mom who lost custody of her kids and was facing jail time, Medina took advantage of a GAP Ministries program to turn her life around.
"This program helped me out, it helped me get through the obstacles of that part of my life," Medina shared with me.
Medina enrolled in the nonprofit's well-known Culinary Arts certification program . She's now back with her kids, and working at a Tucson-area restaurant.
"It's just incredible to see her story and see how it all unfolded," said GAP Ministries co-founder Greg Ayers . "We had lots of parts to play in that. She had to say yes, and she had to dig in and work hard, which she did. But it's really tremendous to see what's happened in her life."
Annette still volunteers in the GAP Ministries kitchen, serving thousands of meals each week to those in need.
"We serve the community in schools and nonprofits and people that are just home-bound," said Medina. "So, it's an amazing program."
August Giving Project 2024: GAP Ministries continues to serve Tucsonans, despite $250,000 in monsoon damage
——- Pat Parris is an anchor and reporter for KGUN 9 . He is a graduate of Sabino High School where he was the 1982 high school state track champion in the 800 meters. While in high school and college, he worked part-time in the KGUN 9 newsroom. Share your story ideas and important issues with Pat by emailing pat.parris@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .
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