Port In the Storm: Bronx House Supper Club Helping Feed More Than Locals
PALM COAST, Fla. – There are an estimated 350 homeless students in St. Johns County schools. What happens to them after they leave the shelter of school? What happens to young adults 18-25 after they age out of support programs?
In 2015 the St. Augustine-based St. Francis House expanded and strengthened their strategic plan to focus on these homeless youth and since then has become a safe haven for unaccompanied youth, young adults aging out of foster care and families in need.
Sharing more about the work they have done in the region for the past 40 years at the St. Francis House and the Port in the Storm Homeless Youth Center, Joy Case, director of development for the organization, was grateful for the dozens gathered at Bronx House Pizza on Monday evening to raise funds for the program.
"More than 65 percent of our income is from philanthropy," said Case. "It really is all about the community's support and the support of people like Bruno doing things like this."
As part of the mom-and-pop pizza shop's Supper Club program, 100% of the day's sales, not proceeds, go to the charitable organization featured for the evening. The St. Francis House holds a special place in the hearts of owners and employees, as they go on a regular basis to cook and serve those cared for at the St. Francis House.
"Bruno (DiFabio) and Mike (Bennici) are very giving. They give to many charitable type places and we know this because we're their book keepers," said friend Vic O'Dell. "When they say 100 percent they really mean 100 percent. They didn't make no money tonight. It's very rare amongst restaurants. We do other restaurants and they say they do charitable contributions, but nothing in comparison to these guys."
Diners paid $100 each to enjoy the 7-course meal, with everything from Ceviche to Maryland style crabcakes, a delectable pasta dish and a modern take on the cannoli. Each dish thoughtfully curated to tantalize the palate and spark conversation at the table.
"I loved coming to Bronx and trying new and different items," said diner Courtney Akel. "It was really good food."
The Supper Club events allow the chefs at Bronx House a chance to stretch their creative wings offering dishes not on the menu, but the real goal is to draw attention to the charitable organization featured during the evening's event.
For co-owner Bruno DiFabio, the mission to help families in need began with his own family's struggles as a young boy.
"My mom raised me, a single mom in a basement apartment and she was a factory worker. We had a very hard time making ends meet. I gravitated towards this business to help my mom make bills and such so I've always been called to service at a very young age. 13 or 14 years old I was named United Way Volunteer of the Year where I grew up. I've been facilitating feeding the homeless projects throughout high school and college, and especially as a businessman for 32 years now," shared DiFabio.
"I just love it. I'm drawn to it. I really like to motivate people and I want to show people how easy it is to do service to the community," he said. "This event is hopefully growing in momentum. It means the world to me."
