Being extraordinary isn’t just about talent or success. It’s about strong character, deep empathy, and commitment to something bigger than yourself.

Extraordinary people inspire others and leave a lasting mark on their community. If you have never met Tina Crisher, I want to share a little about her.
Words alone can’t capture Tina’s spirit but let me tell you about the everyday moments that made her extraordinary.

Tina was The Haven’s kitchen coordinator, but titles never defined her. She gave everything she had, even on days when there wasn’t much available to give. This was never just a job to her; it was her purpose, where she belonged. She believed food could heal, and she poured kindness, humor, and hope into every meal. She reminded everyone who walked through our doors that they mattered.

We fed 120 men, women, and children three times a day, seven days a week in a tiny, cramped space shared with the shelter. Outdated appliances, a shoestring budget, and constant chaos. Most would have complained, most would have burned out. But not her. She showed up every day with a spark, cracking jokes and making up new lyrics to old rock songs as we cooked, and somehow making even the hardest days lighter. She faced every challenge with determination and purpose.

Most people never knew that Tina was battling Crohn’s disease. Every day, she carried pain that would have brought others to their knees. Exhaustion that settled deep into her bones. A body that betrayed her even as she kept giving. She would go days without eating because she did not want to cause a flare-up. Some days, I could hear stomach growling across the kitchen. But she never asked for sympathy. She never wanted anyone to feel sorry for her. While she was literally starving, she cooked food for so many others and served it with a kind word and a smile. She pushed through the pain with a grace that still breaks my heart to think about. She fought her illness in silence so she could keep fighting for everyone else out loud.

She saw something in me I didn’t know was there, and she held that belief with such certainty it changed the course of my life. She protected me, taught me, challenged me, and cared for me in ways I will never be able to repay. She made even the everyday moments special, like when she would throw her arm out in an attempt to keep me safe when she slammed on the brakes as a light turned red, and how she would rub her neck until the skin was almost raw when she was nervous or stressed especially during health department inspections, or the way she would laugh and say “I can’t even with you “ after I made a joke or said something to gross her out. Losing her broke a piece of me that can never be fixed. Sitting behind her desk now, I feel the weight of her legacy every day. I would give anything to stand on the other side and make her laugh again, and hear her say, “I can’t even with you!”

Finishing this kitchen isn’t just a project to me. It’s a promise. It’s the final act of love for the woman who changed my life and served so many with her famous meatloaf, her award-winning chili, and her heart. This new kitchen, which will be called “Tina’s Table,” will be a place where her spirit lives on in every meal, every laugh, and every moment of comfort shared. The Haven hasn’t been the same without her, but together, we can make sure her dream becomes real.
We are officially launching the "Tina’s Dream" Tile Fundraiser, a community effort to complete the new kitchen that meant so much to her. She believed deeply in creating a space where meals could bring comfort, connection, and second chances. The new kitchen will serve thousands of people in the years ahead, and we want the entryway to reflect the people who helped make it possible.

We invite you to purchase an engraved tile that will be permanently installed in the new building's entryway. Each tile represents a story, a family, a memory, or a message of hope. Together, these tiles will form a wall that honors Tina’s vision and supports the mission she cared for so deeply. Tile options start at $60 and include standard, marble, and granite. Every purchase brings us one step closer to completing the kitchen and carrying Tina’s dream forward.
Whether you give a little or a lot, your tile becomes part of something permanent.

Part of the welcome.
Part of the healing.
Part of Tina’s legacy.
Part of the wall that feeds hope.