By Isabela Gamez
The Primavera Foundation
Inside the kitchen at Primavera Foundation’s Men’s Shelter, Primavera Kitchen Manager Victor Hightower moves quickly between burners, trays and prep tables, preparing meals that will feed dozens of shelter participants throughout the day.
Now, thanks to a donated stove secured through a community partnership involving Economy Restaurant Supply and Caridad Community Kitchen, the shelter kitchen has an important new piece of equipment that is already helping improve meal preparation for residents.
Todd Eanes, Associate Director of Caridad Community Kitchen, said the equipment was made available as part of their effort to pass along usable kitchen appliances to other nonprofits after upgrading their teaching kitchen.
“I’m a huge fan of Primavera and having been involved with what you guys do for more than 10 years over at the men’s shelter,” Eanes said. “We couldn’t be any happier with where the stoves ended up.”
The donated stove replaced an older oven that had become difficult to use consistently during large-scale meal preparation. For Hightower, the new equipment has already made a meaningful difference in the kitchen’s day-to-day operations.
“It’s the first basic piece of equipment you need in a kitchen,” Hightower said. “In our case, it’s the only oven we have.”
The donation came together unexpectedly after staff began exploring options for replacing aging equipment. Through a community connection, the effort soon turned into an opportunity to receive donated restaurant equipment instead.
For Hightower, the impact has been immediate.
“Getting a replacement oven was really important for us,” he said. “We rely on it every day to prepare fresh, home-cooked meals for the shelter.”
Hightower joined Primavera as the Men’s Shelter Kitchen Manager after years of working in nonprofit kitchens, and development and marketing programs across Tucson. Cooking has always been central to his life.
“I’ve always cooked my whole life,” he said. “Everybody in my family cooks.”
At the shelter, he prepares everything from breakfasts and lunches to large home-cooked dinners, often working days ahead to make sure meals are ready for weekends and busy shelter shifts.
“We like to provide fresh, plentiful, home-cooked meals,” he said. “The oven is super important.”
For Hightower, the work goes far beyond simply feeding people.
“Feeding people is definitely one of my love languages,” he said.
He believes meals can provide comfort, dignity, and motivation during difficult times. Even small details — seasoning donated food, adding fresh vegetables or taking extra time with presentation — matter.
“I always tell people the difference between a cook and a chef is love,” Hightower said. “Anybody can heat something up, but if you take the time to make it special, that’s love.”
Outside the kitchen, Hightower is also a writer currently preparing to self-publish his first novel. But whether he’s writing before sunrise or cooking meals at the shelter, creativity remains at the center of his work.
“When we as creative people don’t create, we do ourselves harm,” he said.
Now, with the support of community partners and the newly donated stove in place, Hightower can continue doing one of the things he loves most: serving meals made with care to people who need them most.