Sacramento's Plates 2 Go Gives Women Second Chance At Better Life
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A new restaurant is serving up second chances for women in Downtown Sacramento.
It's been five years, but recalling it like it was just yesterday, Tamara Kafka escaped a domestic-violence relationship.
"It was not a good time in my life," she said. "The environment wasn't healthy for me and my kids, so that's what made me homeless."
It was also a troubling time for Marva Moore who made the life-changing decision to face the demons of a 20-year drug addiction head on.
And then there's Stepphanie Nevin. When her home went into foreclosure she was days from being on the streets.
"It's scary, especially with a child."
All three women have a different past, but chose the same path. St John's Shelter in Sacramento.
"If I didn't go to St. John's, I don't think I would be where I'm at today," Kafka said.
"I thought it was my worst day, but it was my best day," Nevin said.
The shelter helped them get back on their feet. All three are graduates the program and are no longer homeless. Marva's been off drugs for four years.
"Amazing, I never thought I would be clean."
And they all work at Plates 2 Go in Sacramento. The new restaurant offers fresh local food and gives women experience to get back into the workforce.
Tamara used her tools from the program to get hired as the head kitchen maanger.
"You can't let the past define you," Kafka said. "We all have a past, we all have a story, we just have to move on and motivate each other. "
The mothers are all grounded and grateful to provide for their kids.
"I'm just glad to be a productive member of society," Kafka said.
"I just feel like a great mother," Nevin said.
"I keep motivated for them to have a better life than I had growing up," said Moore.
The restaurant is now open Monday through Friday at 17th and L streets in Sacramento. They work with local farmers and ranchers to encourage the farm-to-fork movement.
