Philoxenia, Inc.

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December 2019 Soup Run

Our guests were appreciative but in a hurry to find shelter from the 20 degree temperature during last night’s Soup Run. We served 120 meals of comfort food – meatloaf, rice and vegetables, and sandwiches to a long line of guests waiting for us on 33rd Street in New York City. We also walked around the block, into Penn Station, and to the drop-in center where we distributed food, hats and gloves to hungry souls.

In Penn Station, we found people sleeping on the floor, some were strung out and without any belongings. Approaching individuals quietly and with compassion, we asked if they wanted a meal. Most responded by opening their eyes, lifting themselves up, accepting our food and then offering us thanks and happy holiday wishes. At other times, standing in one spot and distributing food, a crowd gathered instantaneously to accept our offerings.

When we arrived at the drop-in center, everyone was in for the night and we asked the guard if we could offer food. Within seconds, about 20 people came outside and happily accepted our sandwiches, thanking us and saying Happy Holidays.

Last night, as we do every December, we gave out 100 sets of hand knit scarves, hats and gloves made lovingly by our Knitting for Charity group. Each set included a handwritten note in a holiday card.

Many times during the monthly Soup Run we find just one more item after we think we have distributed all that we have. That happened last night too. At the end of the evening as we were packing up our cars, a woman came by wearing only two fleece jackets. Our bins were empty but a volunteer remembered that we left an especially nice coat in a car – knowing that we wanted to give it to someone special. We gave the woman the coat, along with a scarf that a volunteer was wearing, and reflected on the small miracles that happen so often.

Thank you to the donors, supporters and volunteers of the Soup Run. We could not feed and clothe so many every month without the kindness and generosity of our extended community. This month we express gratitude to our volunteers from Stamford, CT (Fr. Harry Pappas and parishioners), Westchester County, Queens and New York City:

  • Agathy & James Gerkis for their sponsorship
  • Manny Louros and Zachary Karounos for preparing the meals and Basil Apostle and Kelly Sisco for packaging them
  • Cookies – Alexis Livanos
  • Sandwiches – Kathryn Papataros
  • Sandwiches – Starbucks Manager, Diego Bastidas
  • 100+ snack cakes – Anonymous
  • Minos Samoladas for his generous donation which enabled us to purchase clothing
  • Anthoula DeKnatel, the Knitting for Charity Group, George Kourakos and Alexandra King for knitting and crocheting 100+ scarves and hats
  • Bags of coats and sneakers – Ascension Church (Fairview, NJ)
  • Underwear and toiletries – Archangels Church (Stamford, CT)
  • New bins for clothing and toiletries – Jennifer Curtis
  • 80 pairs of hand warmers and men’s underwear – Alexandra Baudouin
  • Toiletries and tote bags – Trish Lilley & Jessica Grayson
  • Toiletries – Deborah Farone
  • Melina Morris and Bombas (https://bombas.com/) for socks and T-shirts
  • AHEPA for rearranging their monthly schedule to join the Soup Run
  • May Vlachos (St. George NYC) for preparing the Mental Health Clinic guide and including the Soup Run dates
  • Constance Mavrovitis and Cynthia Herzegovitch for organizing the clothing
  • Georgeann Mavrovitis and Loredana Soravito Curtis for preparing the toiletry kits

Remember those who are hungry and experiencing homelessness. Your kindness knows no bounds. Please join us in 2020, beginning January 30th, and on the last Thursday of every month. Wishing all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday Season, and a Happy New Year filled with abundant blessings.

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November 2019 Soup Run

We had a large and enthusiastic group of volunteers who served food and distributed clothing and toiletries to more than 125 guests in New York City during last night’s soup run. Celebrating an early Thanksgiving, we served turkey dinners, including traditional sides of stuffing, mashed potatoes and vegetables.

As we expanded our outreach and covered the large block around Madison Square Garden, we offered food, socks, hats, scarves and blankets to those congregating on the steps of the Post Office and waiting to enter the drop-in center. We talked with a group of seven who were settled in for the night at the corner of 33rd Street and 8th Avenue. When we asked them about their safety on the street, they told us “as long as we are together, we will be OK”. One of the men kept touching the hand-crocheted scarf we gave him and said he couldn’t believe someone made it for him. He said he wished he had a wall to hang it on so that he could admire it. We also met a young couple who left the shelter system after the woman said she was beaten by a group of women. They now live in Penn Station with little direction for their future. We also talked with a man who asked for long johns to keep his legs warm. He thanked us for the down coat we had given him earlier in the evening, saying even though it was a woman’s coat, it was keeping him warm and he didn’t mind wearing it.

Thank you to the donors, supporters and volunteers of the Soup Run. We could not feed and clothe so many every month without the kindness and generosity of our extended community. This month we express gratitude to our supporters from across Westchester County, Queens and New York City:

  • Eugenia Kalmanidis (St. George, Norwalk) for her sponsorship
  • Sandwiches from Kathryn Papataros
  • Manny Louros and Zachary Karounos for preparing sandwiches and Basil Apostle and Kelly Sisco for packing
  • Michael Fennessy at Somers Hot Bagels for his donation of bagels
  • Minos Samoladas for his generous donation which enabled us to purchase clothing
  • Socks from Alexandra Speres
  • Willie Sleight, Amy Nielson, Deborah Farone and the NY Legal Marketing Association (https://www.legalmarketing.org/page/northeast-news) for toiletry items
  • Melina Morris and Bombas (https://bombas.com/) for socks
  • Kathleen Haverlack Wasser and the American Lung Association (https://www.lung.org/) for shirts
  • May Vlachos (St. George NYC) for preparing the Mental Health Clinic guide and including the Soup Run dates
  • Constance Mavrovitis and Cynthia Herzegovitch for organizing the clothing
  • Georgeann Mavrovitis and Loredana Soravito Curtis for preparing the toiletry kits

Remember those who are hungry and experiencing homelessness. Your kindness knows no bounds. Please join us next month on December 19, 2019 (not December 26). In January, we will be back on our “last Thursday of the month” schedule. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone on this special day when we count our blessings and all things for which we are grateful.

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October 2019 Soup Run

Although we arrived a week earlier than expected, a large crowd was waiting for us on 33rd Street in Manhattan for last night’s soup run. We served 125 meals of pasta with meatballs, as well as oranges, granola bars, coffee and juice. We distributed all of the clothing and toiletries we had and 75 sandwiches to others at a nearby drop-in center and on the steps of the post office.

 
We met a wide range of guests last night: those with medical conditions, mental health challenges, substance abuse issues and others who have a home but cannot afford food. We served a rough-looking young man with tattoos on his face who was eating his meal very quickly. When we offered him a second meal, he thanked us and said we should give it to someone else who was hungry. There were two guests in wheelchairs – one who accepted our food and any clothing we could give him. The other wheelchair-bound guest, Allie, and her partner, Curtis, talked with us for a while about the horrific accident she was in that has left her in a dire situation. When she was pregnant several months ago, she was struck by a semi-truck. Her baby survived and is being cared for by a family member but her leg was crushed. We were stunned when she showed us the horrific condition of her leg. She and Curtis are living on the street while she tries to get much needed medical attention. Allie, who is from upstate NY, moved to New York City to pursue a singing career and she amazed us with her angelic voice when she sang a gospel hymn.
Thank you to the donors, supporters and volunteers of the Soup Run. We greatly appreciate the generosity of our everyone in our extended community and this month, we express gratitude to our supporters from across Westchester County, Queens and New York City:
  • The anonymous donor for their sponsorship
  • The anonymous donation of homemade morning glory muffins
  • The anonymous donation of 135 hand-crocheted hats
  • Sandwiches from Kathryn Papataros
  • Manny Louros and Zachary Karounos for preparing the meals and Basil Apostle for packing
  • Minos Samoladas for his generous donation which enabled us to purchase clothing
  • Melina Morris and Bombas (https://bombas.com/) for socks and T-shirts
  • A group of 10 Heidrick & Struggles employees for their participation
  • May Vlachos (St. George NYC) for preparing the Mental Health Clinic guide and including the Soup Run dates
  • Constance Mavrovitis and Cynthia Herzegovitch for organizing the clothing
  • Georgeann Mavrovitis and Loredana Soravito Curtis for preparing the toiletry kits
It is a privilege to share with our guests the abundance of compassion and all that we offer. We are accepting donations of new men’s and women’s underwear, coats and blankets. Please join us next month on November 21, 2019 (the Thursday before Thanksgiving).

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September 2019 Soup Run

A large crowd, one of the largest we’ve seen, was waiting for us last night when we arrived on 33rd Street in Manhattan for our monthly Soup Run. We served 115 chicken and rice dinners and 75 sandwiches. As we opened our car doors, several guests immediately helped us set up tables and unload bins of food, clothing and bottles of water. Another guest, earlier in the evening, let the nearby security guards know that we were on our way to serve those who were lining up.

Our Soup Run is an experience of mutual compassion. We serve our guests in a friendly, caring manner and they do the same. Keith, one of our guests, reached into a bag we had given him and shared food and clothing with another guest who arrived late after we had run out of everything. One of our volunteers gave the rain jacket she was wearing to a man who was cold. When we gave socks to a woman, she remarked that Bombas socks are so comfortable, she can walk all day in them.
 
We found more hungry souls as we walked through Penn Station, to a nearby drop-in center, up and down the steps of the old post office and in front of St. Francis. We gave them the last of our food and sandwiches. As we stood on the steps of the post office, others saw that we were giving away food and ran up to us asking if we had meals for them. It is not hard to find someone who needs nourishment for their body and an expression of love for their heart. We heard so many “thank you” and “God bless you” comments.
 
Thank you to the donors, supporters and volunteers of the Soup Run. We could not feed and clothe so many every month without the kindness and generosity of our extended community. This month we express gratitude to our supporters from across Westchester County, Queens and New York City:
  • Jim & Pat Mikelis for their sponsorship
  • Greg Pappas of The Pappas Post (https://www.pappaspost.com) for interviewing us and our guests for an upcoming story
  • Alexis Livanos for socks
  • Trish Lilley for 36 backpacks (with snacks!)
  • Carol Greenwald for 26 airline business class travel kits
  • Alexandra & Richard Baudouin for a dozen new flannel shirts
  • Louiza Kinas for clothing
  • Kathryn Papataros for sandwiches 
  • Manny Louros and Zachary Karounos for preparing sandwiches and Basil Apostle for packing
  • Minos Samoladas for his generous donation which enables us to purchase clothing every month
  • Melina Morris and Bombas (https://bombas.com/) for socks and T-shirts
  • Kathleen Haverlack Wasser for tote bags & toiletry kits and the American Lung Association https://www.lung.org/ for 350 T-shirts
  • May Vlachos (St. George NYC) for preparing the Mental Health Clinic guide and including the Soup Run dates
  • Constance Mavrovitis and Cynthia Herzegovitch for organizing the clothing
  • Georgeann Mavrovitis and Loredana Soravito Curtis for preparing toiletry kits
Remember those who are hungry and homeless and know that every act of kindness you offer is so meaningful to those in need. We look forward to you joining us next month on October 24, 2019 (not October 31).

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August 2019 Soup Run

“This is the best sandwich I’ve ever had,” said one of our guests during last night’s soup run. We served 225 sandwiches, thanks to donations and those we prepared, at three locations in New York City. Everywhere we walked we found someone who was hungry and happy to receive our offering.

We arrived at Madison Square Garden and there was nowhere to park because trucks were double-parked on the street for a Jonas Brothers concert. Shifting to an alternate location, our guests followed us, helped us set up and waited while we organized the food and clothing in the dark and with limited light from cell phones. We distributed hundreds of T-shirts, socks, men’s and women’s underwear and the last of the warm weather clothing. Mid-way through the evening, we walked to a drop-in center a couple of blocks away where we distributed sandwiches, water and T-shirts. Passing the old post office, we found many hungry souls who were sleeping on the steps and they gratefully accepted our food. We also distributed sandwiches to several individuals sleeping in front of St. Francis of Assisi Church. 
 
There were so many people we talked with last night who touched our hearts:
  • Jonathan told us he has been homeless for many years. During the summer he sleeps on the sidewalk in front of St. Francis. He wakes up at 4:15 a.m. to pick up the trash and clean the sidewalk in front of the church. He sees it as his job and his way of “giving back to the church”. Jonathan has never been hurt at his spot and said it’s safer sleeping there than in a homeless shelter. During the winter, Jonathan sleeps on the R train because it’s the only train that runs entirely underground.
  • At the drop-in center, we talked with Zafir. He shook each of our hands and thanked us for the sandwiches we provided and the respect we showed. He told us that most people ignore the homeless and look down on them.
  • A man from South Korea accepted our food, graciously and gratefully bowing, palms together, while expressing his thanks.
  • We gave a T-shirt to a man and a few minutes later, he took off his dirty T-shirt and changed into the new one.
  •  We approached a man nodding off in a stupor and offered him a sandwich. He turned down a ham sandwich, accepted a turkey sandwich and then apologized to us for not accepting the first item we offered. Even in his state, he was appreciative.
Thank you to the donors, supporters and volunteers of the Soup Run. We could not feed and clothe so many every month without the kindness and generosity of our extended community. This month we express gratitude to supporters from Westchester County, including New Rochelle and Yonkers, Queens and New York City:
  • Cleo Canelos for her sponsorship
  • Sandwich donations from an anonymous donor and from Kathryn Papataros (Kathy Caffentzis’ sister-in-law)
  • Manny Louros and Zachary Karounos for preparing sandwiches and Basil Apostle for packing
  • Minos Samoladas for his generous donation which enabled us to purchase clothing
  • Melina Morris and Bombas (https://bombas.com/) for socks and T-shirts
  • Kathleen Haverlack Wasser and the American Lung Association https://www.lung.org/ for 750 T-shirts
  • Michele Bonds and Heidrick & Struggles (https://heidrick.com/) for plastic cutlery
  • May Vlachos (St. George NYC) for preparing the Mental Health Clinic guide and including the Soup Run dates
  • Constance Mavrovitis and Cynthia Herzegovitch for organizing the clothing
  • Georgeann Mavrovitis and Loredana Soravito Curtis for preparing the toiletry kits
Remember those who are hungry and homeless and know that every act of kindness you offer is appreciated by those in need. We look forward to you joining us next month on September 26, 2019. For those not able to join us in person, consider the words of Mother Teresa: “If you can’t feed 100 people, then feed just one.”

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