We are thrilled to announce some significant upgrades to the Westminster Kitchen which were made possible through a dedicated, independent fundraising effort led by Bryan Beckman, a volunteer for the FOCUS Breakfast Program. These upgrades directly benefit the FOCUS Breakfast Program, which makes use of our kitchen every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning to serve a hot breakfast to 150 or more people daily.
Bryan is the brother of Rev. Brigid Beckman, pastor of the Unity Church of Albany and member of the FOCUS Board. Bryan and his partner Beth started volunteering at the FOCUS Breakfast late in 2024 after helping at Breakfast Club on Thanksgiving. With his extensive background in facilities management and food service, and as the owner of a construction management and interior renovation company, Bryan recognized the costs of maintaining, repairing, and replacing our kitchen equipment and decided he wanted to help out.
Bryan Beckman’s $100 Challenge
Bryan started by writing 100 personal letters to his family and friends. He described the impact of the Breakfast Program on our community and asked them to join him in giving $100 each to purchase much-needed new equipment for the Westminster kitchen to improve the program. His passion and commitment, along with the generous response of his network and other FOCUS volunteers, resulted in total donations of $7,275 for the designated “Kitchen Equipment & Upgrades” fund as of October 2025.
A heartfelt thank you to Bryan and the 45 donors who contributed to this important campaign!
New Equipment to Serve Our Community Better
The funds have been used to purchase and install key pieces of equipment, which will immediately improve the efficiency and quality of the FOCUS Breakfast Program:
- Mobile Heated Cabinet: This insulated cabinet is designed to hold up to 18 full-size pans and maintains safe, hot temperatures. This cabinet replaced the warming oven Westminster has had for many years which wasn’t quite up for the job.
- Heavy-Duty Conveyor Toaster: This commercial toaster has an ultra-fast heat-up time and an output of up to 1,000+ slices per hour. This addition will drastically speed up breakfast preparation.
- Stainless Steel Work Table: This new stainless steel work table will provide a sturdy home for the new toaster. The purchase also includes heavy-duty casters for the table, allowing us to easily move it when needed.
- Infrared Food Warmer: This unit will use infrared heat to keep various food items warm and ready to serve, and it includes a full-size food pan.
We have also recently acquired two restaurant-sized Coffee Urns that will replace the percolators that FOCUS has been using. We also need a little electrical work to get all the equipment operational which will also be covered by this fund.
Help with Other Building Improvements
Bryan has also been assisting with a few items that have been on the Trustee’s list of needed repairs for several years. He worked with our former Trustee Chair, John Bossung, to order new, steel doors for the boiler room and the entry to the Fellowship Hall from the alley. While the church paid for these doors, Bryan and a colleague have offered to donate their labor to install them. The doors have arrived at the church, so you will see them in operation soon.
Bryan also organized the installation of a center railing for the steps leading from the alley into the Fellowship Hall, the primary entrance for the Breakfast Program. The added railing significantly improves safety, especially during the winter months when the stairs can become slick with ice and snow. The project was built by Bryan’s nephew, Noah.
All of these improvements to our building will help the FOCUS breakfast volunteers serve the community faster and better than ever before. Thank you again to Bryan Beckman for taking the initiative and to everyone who contributed to the “Kitchen Equipment & Upgrades” fund!
