SPRING 2018
Voice of a Guest...David Former soup kitchen guest David was making the rounds on his delivery route one morning when he stopped at a familiar church. Realizing it was Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, where he found his footing when he was unemployed and homeless, he knew he had to stop in to express his gratitude. “I went and found the counselor who had helped me years ago,” he says. Walking into the soup kitchen after five years had passed, David was transported back in time to his first visit. “I came here and they offered me friendship,” he recalls. Originally from Miami, David had lost everything—his job, his home, and his marriage —after the 2008 economic crash, and decided to move to New York for a fresh start. “I thought there would be more opportunity…” he explains. But with no savings, he was unable to afford a place to live or find a job. For the first time in his life David was homeless, sleeping at night in the New York City shelter system.
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I felt safe here. I felt embraced. There were always listening ears if I had a problem.
Fortunately, a woman at a shelter told him about Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen. “I found it very homey. It was relaxing,” David remembers. “I would sit and listen to the music being played, and the servers were very kind.” The emotional support from the volunteers and social services counselors was invaluable
to David. “Everyone gave the best of themselves,” he says. But it was the practical assistance they provided that finally set his life back on track. MetroCards and phone access from our social services program allowed him to call potential employers and travel to Former soup job interviews. With these tools, kitchen guest he soon found work driving for a David visits the soup kitchen moving company. to thank those who helped him. David has now been earning a good salary driving a delivery truck for several years. What’s more, he is overjoyed to share that he has found love again, and is engaged to be married. He and his fiancée are planning a cruise for their honeymoon, but he never forgets that homelessness can happen to anyone. Inspired by all the volunteers who helped him in his darkest days, he regularly volunteers at a local men’s shelter. Today, David is grateful for the support and nourishment he found at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen when he needed help. “They accepted me into their home,” he says, “The hope that I found here kept me believing and moving forward.”
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Soup Kitchen supporters gathering at last year’s Farm to Tray event
May 17th, 2018 We hope you can join in on our 6th annual food and wine benefit, Farm to Tray, on May 17, 2018. A celebration of food and community, this event challenges New York’s finest chefs to produce a “Sustainable Menu” that is rooted in the soup kitchen’s approach to using fresh, locally grown produce, minimizing food waste, and planning nutritionally balanced and delicious meals. This year, we will be honoring Google for its contributions since moving to their new Chelsea location. In addition to its Food@Google contribution to the culinary line-up, the company has donated the largest single Farm to Tray corporate gift in the event’s history. “Google has shown a level of commitment that dramatically raises the bar, and leads by example,” says Interim Executive Director Bishop Andrew R. St. John. “Their generosity is an inspiration for all of us to step up for the most vulnerable in our city.” To kick off the 6 pm VIP hour, Gotham Burger Social Club will present Chef Dominick Pepe of The Group NYC. Chef Pepe’s newest restaurant is the highly acclaimed Boucherie Park. At 7 pm, chefs from some of New York’s most distinguished restaurants will present their sustainable tasting menu.
Farm to Tray Chefs and Culinary Partners
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Preston Madson, Bellwether Kim Huskey, Food@Google Ginger Pierce, Jams Robert Cho, Kimchi Smoke Laurence Edelman, Left Bank Raffaele Volpe, San Matteo Pizza Caroline Schiff, Scoops & Sweets at the Greene Grape Ralpheal Abrahante, Thalassa Craig Reid, The Westin NY at Times Square Meliano Plasencia, ZIO Ristorante Chef & Cookbook Author, Yvan Lemoine
Chef Caroline Schiff’s strawberry shortcake was a big crowd pleaser last year.
With cuts to food assistance programs and almost 1.2 million New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity, Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is feeling the impact. “Eating here offers the opportunity to not have to choose between a warm meal or paying rent,” says Michael Ottley, Director of Operations. “And it’s more than a meal. We take our commitment to serving quality, local and non-processed fresh produce seriously… and to offer our guests the kind of support that enables them to help themselves. Farm to Tray truly helps us continue this level of service.” Farm to Tray guests can enjoy this spring-time evening benefit in our delightful garden, and inside our landmark sanctuary where we serve about 5,000 soup kitchen patrons every week. The talented student jazz band from Avenues: The World School and the in-kind support from food, beverage and event sponsors will once again enhance the festive and elegant atmosphere. And with generous donations of luxury items, restaurant and travel experiences, the silent auction is shaping up to keep things lively and fun. It’s not too late to learn more about ways to participate and support our most impactful community fundraiser of the year by logging on to www.farmtotray.org. You can also join the fun by sharing our #farmtotray social media updates with your family and friends!
It’s not too late to learn more about ways to participate and support our most impactful community fundraiser of the year by logging on to www.farmtotray.org.
Zero Waste by 2020
Working with the NYU Wagner Capstone Project and NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), the soup kitchen is taking action toward our “Zero by 20” goal— that is, creating zero waste by 2020. How is this done? Among the many steps in the process accomplished so far, we:
E worked with NYU Wagner Capstone
Project to conduct a food waste audit on three separate days in February and March.
E use specialized signs and bins provided by DSNY to promote community involvement.
E compost food and paper products that
are soiled with food waste and no longer recyclable by sorting into the Organics Bins for DSNY to pick up. The compost then turns to soil that benefits farmers and a healthy food system.
E replaced non-recyclable waxed paper cups Check out our new reusable cups—a big step toward zero waste!
by purchasing reusable cups that hold both cold and hot beverages. An environmentally responsible solution, this will save us over $14,000 in annual purchasing costs.
Voices of our Volunteers…Team Wlody “Improving peoples’ lives is what we do,” says soup kitchen volunteer Corinne Wlody. “It’s our passion.” Soon after she and her husband Jack started volunteering at our daily meal service in 2015, the couple came up with other creative George, (2nd ways to help, like their Annual Glove from left) is Giveaway. Every year they partner with thrilled with his new Team friends to hand out 1,000 pairs of warm Wlody bike. fleece gloves to our guests. “Team Wlody,” as they call themselves, are business owners, health coaches, childrens’ book authors and National Bike Challenge champions. They also invest their unstoppable energy into volunteerism and philanthropy. Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is part of that investment. “I love doing this,” said Corinne on a cold morning last winter. “Being able to give people a
pair of gloves they need to stay warm, or even a hug. We want them to know that someone cares about them.” Last fall, the couple helped a soup kitchen guest who was looking for a bike after foot surgery left him with limited mobility. Team Wlody Wlody quickly responded to our social media The Annual Glove call to action, and gave George a Giveaway helped our brand new bike and helmet. “We’re guests stay cyclists, so this was right up our alley,” warm this winter. says Corinne. “George is a sweet human being. We were very humbled by him.” Team Wlody believes that volunteering is an essential part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. “We try to lead by example,” Jack says. “And show that you can do small things in your own neighborhood that make a difference.” “We love the spirit of Holy Apostles,” Corinne adds. “The kindness that exudes from everyone is palpable!”
Planned Giving
With cuts to food assistance programs and the cost of living only getting higher, the problem of hunger is not going away any time soon. By joining our 1982 Circle, your planned giving arrangements will have a lasting impact on the lives of our guests today, and tomorrow. Your attorney or financial planner can help you include Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen as a beneficiary. You can start the process by calling 646-998-6104 or by emailing plannedgiving@holyapostlesnyc.org
Care2Share: InvestorsBank makes it easy to support the soup kitchen! Investors Bank, a loyal and generous corporate soup kitchen supporter, has an easy and free way for you to continue your support of the soup kitchen. By opening an account with Investors they will make a quarterly donation to the soup kitchen on your behalf. For more information, stop by any Investors Bank branch, or just visit www. myinvestorsbank.com
By the Numbers…
Have you ever wond ered how many gues ts our counselors m when you read abou eet with t how lives have been changed through ou services program? W r social ell, we keep track! In 2017, counselors met guests a total of 50,90 with 4 times and 2018 is shaping up to be just not more, busy. Here as, if are some of the figur es we have to date:
Month
Meetings
Shelter Referrals
MetroCards & Transit referral letters
January 4,085 35 February 3,862 29 March (est. 4,875 42 at pre ss time)
Totals 12,822
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109
Clothing
Personal Hygiene Kits & Haircut Vouchers
Mail & Phone
32 760 2,750 331 40 541 2,635 414 25 926 3,171 392
97 2,167 9, 356 1,137
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