During Last Night’s Soup Run, when we had a smaller crowd than usual and were concerned about where we would find 125 hungry souls to feed, we had a number of remarkable experiences. Our usual large group was not waiting for us on 33rd Street – likely due to our change in schedule from the last Thursday of the month to this week.

Our amazing volunteers were not deterred by the small group. We set up tables, organized the pasta meals, 15 bins of clothing, shoes and toiletries. We put the word out, walked to a couple of areas where our guests typically congregate and went into Penn Station. Within seconds of entering Penn Station and after giving out the first meal, we were surrounded by people asking for food. They were grateful, thanked us and wished us a happy Easter.

Sitting on the floor, off to the side in a crowded area of the Station and surrounded by bags of empty bottles and cans, we spotted Martin. We approached him and offered a meal and a toiletry kit. Martin was so happy to see us – he stood up, began organizing his few belongings and some of the bottles that had spilled out of his bags. We talked with him for a long time and were touched by his dignity, spirituality and the gentleness of his soul. As we were leaving, he asked us to pray with him, held our hands and led us in a beautiful prayer. Martin’s words will ring in our ears for a long time: “I am by myself every day but I am never alone.”

Back on 33rd Street, we gathered a few bags of meals, underwear, toiletry kits and cups of hot chocolate and walked to a nearby New York City drop-in center. The center is a room with tables and metal chairs where homeless can sleep, on folding chairs, overnight. Within minutes, we distributed all that we had and many were telling us they were hungry and asked if we had more meals. Some said they hadn’t eaten all day, others said they assumed they wouldn’t be eating dinner as they were checking into the drop-in center for the night. We promised to return with more food. Adam, who is recently homeless after years of incarceration and a failed personal relationship, walked with us to make sure that he could get a meal. We gave him the remaining 10 meals we had so that he could give them to the others. He expressed his gratitude and said he was a bit overwhelmed by our kindness.

One of our guests, Carmello, told us: “People ask what love is. THIS is love.” Please join us next month, on May 30th, to spread the love. A blessed Easter to all.

Hot meals, clothing, shoes and toiletries were distributed in record time to the more than 100 guests we served on 33rd Street in Manhattan during last night’s soup run. We arrived at our location to be greeted by a long line of people who had been patiently waiting for us for nearly an hour. Lemon chicken, rice and vegetables along with snacks, fruit, coffee and the ever-popular hot chocolate with whipped cream were on the menu.

Our bins were overflowing with coats and other clothing and it seemed as if it took only 30 minutes to give away all that we had. Volunteers also provided underwear, socks and several bins of men’s shoes and sneakers – every single item was accepted with sincere appreciation.

The evening was lively and busy, with many volunteers giving out food, listening to and talking with our guests. We were particularly touched by Collette, an elderly woman from Brooklyn. She was introduced to us by a formerly homeless guest who now serves with us every month. Collette quietly told us that she has an apartment but has no furniture and has been sleeping on the floor for months. She asked if we have any furniture, particularly a bed, that we could give her. We promised to bring her an air mattress, pillow and linens next month. Asking Collette to hang in there and sleep on the floor for another month was a difficult conversation but she is appreciative and happy to know that we will be there for her next month.

As our monthly outreach continues to grow, we were honored to be joined last night by Philoptochos members from The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church (NYC), parishioners from St. George Greek Orthodox Church (NYC) and business colleagues of our volunteers. A special group of parishioners and the minister of New Bethel Way of the Cross Church (Harlem) brought numerous purses and backpacks filled with toiletry items earmarked specifically for our women guests. The generously filled bags were assembled during the church’s “Purses for a Purpose” drive and they were so very much appreciated by the women.

Thank you to the many in our community and beyond who so generously support, through their actions and their offerings, the mission of the Soup Run. This month’s outreach was made possible by:

• Claud Karram for sponsoring
• Manny Louros and Zachary Karounos for preparing the meals
• Minos Samoladas for his donation which enables us to purchase much-needed socks and underwear
• Denise Bendo for supporting the Blue Door Thrift shop in Mt. Vernon, and purchasing several large bags of clothing
• Phoebe Malles of Lippe Taylor Integrated Marketing Communications Agency for hundreds of women’s toiletry items
• The Philoptochos of Annunciation, New York City for their donation of socks and men’s underwear
• The parishioners from New Bethel Way of the Cross Church in Harlem for purse donations from their “Purses for a Purpose” drive
• Irene Drivas tote bags and clothing
• John Dos Santos and Charles Calomiris for bins of men’s shoes
• Constance and Georgeann Mavrovitis and Cynthia Herzegovitch for organizing the clothing and toiletries
• The Philoptochos and the Holy Trinity, New Rochelle, community

Please join us next month on April 18th (schedule change due to Easter). All are welcome and donations of seasonal clothing, tote bags, socks and underwear are appreciated.

We served pasta and gave out clothing and toiletries to a large group of cold and hungry souls who had gathered on 33rd Street in New York City during last night’s soup run. Our large group of volunteers included teenagers and those who traveled from Westchester, Long Island and Connecticut and others from Manhattan.

When we first set up our tables, food and clothing on the sidewalk, one of New York’s finest stopped by to ask what we were doing. He had a nice conversation with Fr. Andrew and asked us to keep a portion of the street clear for the NYPD canine vehicles that were parked outside Madison Square Garden. At the end of the evening, the officer asked, “How’d you do tonight?” We thanked him for allowing us to serve on the sidewalk and double park our cars. He said, “How could we not, you’re taking care of people.”

We distributed toiletry kits, nearly 50 backpacks, tote bags, coats, sweaters, hats, underwear and socks. The backpacks and tote bags are among the most needed items and we never seem to have enough. As we were leaving, a man approached and asked us if we had any food. Unfortunately, we had given out all meals but one of our volunteers had a bag of snacks and water in her car that she gave to him. Another volunteer gave a guest his own gloves, saying that he needed them more.

Our monthly Soup Run is a special and much-needed outreach to those who are living on the streets or eking out a marginal existence. We are thankful for the dedicated community of volunteers and supporters who give from their hearts.

All are welcome to join the monthly Soup Run. In-kind donations, including coats, warm clothing, hoodies and backpacks, as well as financial donations, are very much appreciated. Please join us on March 28.

Our dedicated group of 15 volunteers distributed 120 chicken dinners, coats and blankets to our guests on the street and in Penn Station during Last Night’s Soup Run. The 13-degree temperature did not deter our serving because our guests still need to eat. We arrived at our spot on 33rd Street in Manhattan to a group who had assembled and was awaiting our arrival. Given the frigid weather, many of the homeless were not outside so we found them in Penn Station. The minute we began handing out meals, scarves and hats, others approached and we were able to feed a good number of hungry souls.

We talked with Stewart who was once homeless and now lives in Flushing. His rent is subsidized, he plays the harmonica on the subway and occasionally delivers flowers for a florist shop to cover food and other expenses. He likes to talk with our guests to demonstrate to them that they too can get off the streets. We met Steve, a self-described heroin addict, who told us he lives in a wood and cardboard structure he built on a sidewalk under scaffolding. As we were leaving Penn Station, a man approached us hustling for a quarter. When we said we only had food, he did a double take, smiled and said “right, you’re the food people” – he had just seen us on the street! Many we served last night were particularly grateful, thanking us, saying God bless you and wishing us a Happy New Year.

At the end of the evening, we had several coats and toiletry kits remaining so we stopped by the Olivieri Drop-In Center, run by the Coalition for the Homeless, and offered the items to them. The Center, a storefront space with metal folding chairs and tables, was over capacity and turned away others who were looking for a place to sleep for the night while we were there. The Center Manager knew we were the group from New Rochelle because he has heard that we serve on Thursdays.

Our monthly Soup Run is a critical and compassionate outreach program that serves those who are less able than we are to provide for themselves some of life’s necessities: food and clothing. We are immensely blessed with a community of volunteers and supporters who give generously of their time, treasures and talents.