A Calling: How Two Long-Forgotten Letters Affirmed Kevin Tinney’s Service at Saint John’s Hospice

More than 40 years after his father’s passing, 73-year-old Kevin Tinney made an unexpected discovery.

Earlier this year, while visiting his sister-in-law, Tinney was handed a collection of family documents that had belonged to his late brother. Among them were two letters he had never seen before referencing the impact his father, John Tinney, had made through his support of Saint John’s Hospice.

For Tinney, who had begun volunteering at SJH just months earlier, the timing felt remarkable.

“It reinforced that this is where I’m supposed to be,” he said.

Today, Tinney is retired and volunteers at SJH two to three days each week, helping serve meals and support guests experiencing homelessness and poverty. Founded in 1963, SJH is a ministry of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia and one of the oldest and most impactful homeless service organizations in the city, providing meals, shelter, showers, mail services, case management and housing support to thousands of vulnerable individuals each year.

A Family Staple

But long before Tinney became a volunteer, SJH was already part of his family’s story.

His father, John, founded a Philadelphia trucking company in 1933 at just 22 years old. After losing his own father as a child, John left school early to help support his family. Through determination and hard work, he built a successful business and raised seven children.

“My father was not perfect, but he was definitely someone to emulate,” Tinney said. “He was a great father, a great husband and had an unbelievable work ethic.”

John also quietly supported charitable causes throughout the city – among those being SJH.

At a time when SJH did not have its own truck, John helped transport materials and supplies. He also donated food products that could no longer be sold commercially but were still perfectly usable.

As a teenager working in the family business, Kevin occasionally made deliveries to SJH himself.

“I’ve known about SJH since I was a boy, 10 or 11 years old,” he said.

Full Circle

Now, after retiring in early 2025, Tinney knew he wanted to spend part of his retirement serving others.

“I wanted to do something where I wasn’t getting paid,” he said. “I’ve been blessed. Life has never been perfect, but the blessings have been absolutely astronomical.”

Although he considered several volunteer opportunities, SJH remained in the back of his mind.

“It was always there,” he said. “I think it was a calling.”

Just a few months later, he walked through the doors as a volunteer.

A Tradition Passed Down

Last year, Tinney’s grandson, Kevin Humphreys, joined him for what was supposed to be a single day of volunteering at SJH. Afterward, the teenager asked if he could come back.

“Something he saw here opened his eyes.”

His grandson ultimately volunteered regularly for several months, continuing a tradition of service that now spans three generations.

“My father would be extremely proud,” he said.

SJH always welcomes volunteers to help serve vulnerable neighbors. Those interested can visit its website.

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Established in 1963, Saint John’s Hospice, a ministry of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, provides essential residential and day services for neighbors experiencing homelessness. For more information about volunteering or to make a donation, visit www.saintjohnshospice.org.