Philly nun's cranberry sauce creating jobs for homeless

Alicia Vitarelli Image
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
VIDEO: Philly nun's sauce creates jobs for homeless
A local nun's cranberry sauce has become a big hit and the success is giving the homeless a job.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A local nun's cranberry sauce has become a big hit - and the success is giving jobs to the homeless.

Sister Mary Scullion is a co-founder of Project Home and has been making her special recipe for eight years.

It was so good her friends suggested she try to sell it.

Its name? "Sister Mary's Sinfully Delicious Cranberry Sauce!"

She keeps it local, using cranberries from New Jersey and apple cider from Lancaster County.

This year, there are 4,000 jars in production.

"All the proceeds from the sales go to create more jobs for people who were or are homeless," Sister Mary said.

Reginald Young is one of those people. Two years ago he was homeless, living in the Suburban Station subway.

"I had a lot of problems being homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol. My life was going down until I met Sister Mary one night," he said.

This holiday season Reginald says he's thankful for that night, and his job with Project Home.

"You know, to reach out and not to look down at someone but look down at someone to lift someone up that's really a blessing."

Today, Reginald is one of 10 employees making and jarring Sister Mary's now famous recipe and stocking the shelves of local specialty stores like Telas Market in Fairmount.