Feeding Ministry

Trinity Lutheran in Staten Isand

For over twenty-five years I have been involved with feeding the hungry on Staten Island. Back in the day Bob and I and at least two of the three kids would volunteer at the Soup Kitchen located at Trinity Lutheran in Stapleton on Saturday mornings.  The kids went to school there and I worked there for  five years in the late 80's.  I would get my church's groups to cook twice a year on a rotating basis: Men's Club, Episcopal Church Women,  Choir, Youth Group, Evening Guild...each group took their turn and prepared a hot meal in winter and cold salad meal in warmer months for no more than 40 people each week.  I remember that the Episcopal Church Women did a lovingly prepared chicken and pasta salad with halved walnuts and halved grapes enveloped in a mayo/half and half dressing.  It was absolutely decadent.  The first time it was served one of our regulars, an older gentleman, stopped by the kitchen to thank them. "You even cut the grapes!", he said in amazement, "Nobody ever did that for me before."


Bob at the Soup Kitchen Easter 2009

This service time became our family time.  The kids brought friends with them.  We made long lasting relationships with the "regulars" at the Soup Kitchen, both the guests and the other volunteers. When groups did not cook, the "regulars", volunteers themselves, would make pea soup and tuna fish sandwiches with canned fruit or yogurt cups for dessert.  We'd give out apples or oranges when we were able to get them, and solicited holiday food and gifts like socks and hats for Christmas from local supermarkets and congregations to make that time festive. But over the years things have changed.

Prep group
 

Our menu has become more sophisticated, and we now routinely serve full complete meals  with artesianal breads, green salads, hot entrees and interesting desserts each week.  I can't remember the last time we served soup and tuna fish sandwiches.

In the current economic climate in New York City we are seeing an increase in the number of meals we serve each week. On an average Saturday we can serve up to 120 people for lunch.  The people are angrier, and many have never been to a Soup Kitchen before.  We see more mothers and young children, seniors, and full families eating there week after week.

And our volunteer stream has changed.  Many folks like to show up for the holidays...this makes me kind of nuts, but I have gotten over it and am now willing to have them come and make a pitch for them to come on an "off week"...in  reality, there are no "off weeks"...hunger happens all year round.

I am also now working with non-profit organizations or HR departments of corporations who have formal programs to send volunteers for "team building" events. I have learned to be appreciative of the help, but resent that I am expected to provide them with quantifiable experiences and then fill out evaluation sheets.  I just tell the leaders that I don't fill out sheets and direct them to someone who has more patience. 

I don't do this work to "feel good", nor do I do it to "give back"...two phrases that make me want to run screaming from the room.  I do it because we are called to do this work.  I believe it was Jesus who said, "Feed my sheep."...that is my reason.