PITTSBURGH MAYOR COREY O’CONNOR AND CONGRESSWOMAN SUMMER LEE, AMONG THOSE CELEBRATING THE RENOVATION OF THE JUBILEE KITCHEN FACILITY IN UPTOWN, MAY 8, 2026. (PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
Renovated kitchen, building, with new social services office and more
Imagine starting an organization with less than $10.
That’s the story of the Jubilee Kitchen, which was founded in 1979 as a soup kitchen to help those less fortunate in Pittsburgh’s East End. The startup organization was founded with just $9.36, but had what the founders called “an unwavering vision of hope.”
The building, which sits on Wyandotte Street in Uptown, a few blocks from the Hill District, has assisted tens of thousands of local residents over the decades, a substantial amount of whom were African Americans.
But the organization wanted to do more. They began a campaign to renovate its kitchen, a $500,000 dollar project that was mostly secured by Congresswoman Summer Lee through Community Project Funding.
On May 8, 2026, the organization and a bevy of officials celebrated the newly renovated kitchen inside its building. The renovated kitchen allows for even more people in Pittsburgh to get meals, maybe multiple meals per day if needed, as they transition from dependence to independence.
“This is an institution in our community that deserved every bit of investment of resources of renovation, so that the place looks inwardly like the love they give outwardly,” said Congresswoman Lee at the event.
KWELIN HOUSE, JUBILEE KITCHEN’S HEAD CHEF. (PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
Even she couldn’t believe that Jubilee Kitchen started 47 years ago with less than $10, it was “on the belief that nobody in this city should have to face hunger or hardship or homelessness or instability by themselves,” U.S. Rep. Lee said. “Look what that belief in $9.36 has built in this region. This is the only soup kitchen that’s open every single day of the year, child care, housing support, job assistance; a place where people can walk in during a hard season of their lives and get the dignity they deserve.”
Jubilee Kitchen also underwent an additional $5 million project in recent years to renovate its entire building at 2005 Wyandotte St. That project was supported by a number of foundations, corporate and individual donors, and federal and state government sources. Today, there’s upgraded showers and bathrooms, more modern plumbing and electrical installation, and a new social service office, among the improvements.
“This was not an easy project, it was not an easy building to fix,” said Jubilee Kitchen Executive Director Mark Latterner. “It was not only a difficult project, but (the construction team) had to manage us staying open. We were not closing, we had to serve our guests.”
Jubilee Kitchen sits within a three-mile radius of more than 17,000 Pittsburgh residents who live below the poverty line, according to the organization. That’s why its mission is so vital. It serves, on average, at least 125 meals per day to those who come through its doors or even via home delivery.
“What an exciting day this is to cut a ribbon on such a warm and welcoming new space,” added Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. “I’m particularly excited that there’s dedicated areas within this building to support the Path to Self-sufficiency Program, which provides long-term comprehensive case management for individuals and families struggling with homelessness.”
Innamorato said that Jubilee Kitchen had provided 15,000 meals to individuals between January 2026 and early May 2026.
“Well over 2,250 additional services were provided to the guests who walked through these doors,” she said. “These are clothing room visits, personal hygiene items, showers, ID cards, bus tickets and financial assistance to avoid eviction. But these aren’t just numbers; these are our neighbors in Allegheny County who are struggling to stay on their feet to get their most basic needs met for themselves and their families.”
For Latterner, he sees the renovated building and kitchen as just the start of even more ways that Jubilee Kitchen can serve the community. That sentiment was echoed by Pittsburgh’s Mayor, Corey O’Connor.
“This place is so special to so many people,” he said at the event. “Not only does it provide hope, it provides support that our residents need firsthand.”
