Soup Run Reports Archives - Philoxenia, Inc.

September 30, 2019 by Despina Kartson

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).

September 19, 2019 by Despina Kartson

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.”

July 26, 2019 by Despina Kartson

July 2019 Soup Run

The warm summer night, the compassion expressed by our volunteers and the gratitude from our guests made for a beautiful Soup Run last night. We distributed 116 meals to those waiting for us on 33rd Street and to a very appreciative group at a nearby Drop-In Center.

We served chicken, rice and vegetables along with granola bars, oranges, cold bottles of water and coffee. Our guests thanked us and enjoyed their meals while chatting with our volunteers and others. The street was packed with trucks for a concert at Madison Square Garden but we managed to squeeze cars into spaces that our friends from a church in Harlem saved for us.

Every month during the Soup Run, we meet new and interesting guests, re-connect with those we have come to know well and we are pleasantly surprised by the thoughtfulness of others. Last night, a woman to whom we had given a pair of sneakers during the July Soup run, brought them back to us. The sneakers didn’t fit her and she wanted to return them so that we could help someone else. She lives in a small room in a homeless shelter with three other women. We also talked with Joe and gave him a backpack that he requested last month. Sheila Sessoms and the parishioners of New Bethel Way of the Cross Church prepared 27 tote bags packed with men’s tee shirts, underwear and hygiene products. They previously prepared similar bags for women, promising to return with bags for men – and they did. Four employees of Bombas Socks distributed 150 pairs of socks in just a few minutes. The night ended with James playing Beatles music and patriotic songs on a melodica!

Thank you to the donors, supporters and volunteers of the monthly Soup Run. This month, we express gratitude to our supporters from Westchester County, NY and New York City.

Remember those who are hungry and lack sufficient housing. We look forward to you joining us next month on August 29. It is a joyful experience and all are welcome.

June 28, 2019 by John Sawyer

June 2019 Soup Run

On a hot, sticky evening in New York City, a large crowd awaited our caravan of cars and more than 25 volunteers as we turned onto 33rd Street to serve 110 meals during Last Night’s Soup Run. Anticipating our arrival, some of our guests helped unload bins and set up tables while others patiently stood in line. We served spaghetti with meat sauce, vegetables, oranges, water, juice and coffee.

We met new guests and talked with some of our “regulars” who expressed their gratitude for our food and clothing. One man talked about the beauty of caring for one another no matter the race or ethnicity. He told us how much our monthly outreach is appreciated and that those guests who have come to know us will always look out for our safety on the streets.

Last night, we had an extraordinary outpouring of generosity from our volunteers. Melina Morris of Bombas Socks distributed 250 pairs of socks. Bombas donates a pair of socks for every pair purchased. One of our volunteers distributed 54 backpacks and tote bags that she collected from students at her high school.

At the end of the evening when all of our food and clothing had been distributed, we walked to a homeless drop-in center on 31st Street and distributed 75 sandwiches that were made by one of our volunteers. The drop-in center opens its doors at 9 p.m. every night for homeless to sleep on folding chairs. It does not provide food. The supervisor of the center announced to those inside that our group was distributing sandwiches. Immediately, we were surrounded by a crowd and we gave out the sandwiches.

Without the support of our generous donors and volunteers, we would never be able to help feed and clothe those whom we do every month. This month, we express gratitude to our supporters from Westchester County, NY; New York City; Queens; Long Island and Connecticut.

Keep those who are hungry and homeless in your minds, hearts and prayers. Give what you can, when you can, and join us next month on July 25.

May 31, 2019 by John Sawyer

May 2019 Soup Run

The torrential rain didn’t stop us from venturing out to serve our guests during last night’s soup run. By the time we arrived at our spot in Manhattan, the skies cleared, the downpour subsided to a drizzle and we served more than 125 meals to the large group who were waiting for us. No matter what the weather, those who are hungry or homeless still need to eat.

Our guests were exceptionally grateful – thanking us for “coming out in this weather”, saying “God bless you for what you do”, and expressing appreciation for the delicious meal. A couple of our guests helped us set up and serve. One man told us that he remembered we provided food an extra day last month, on Orthodox Good Friday, and remarked about how kind he thought it was that we wouldn’t miss one of our regular evenings.

We talked with a homeless Vietnam veteran who stays in various shelters because he cannot afford rent and food – it’s one or the other. He showed us the ID card he carries which identifies him as a 9/11 survivor. He was working on the 86th floor in one of the World Trade Center towers when he heard an explosion. The noise reminded him of his time in Vietnam and he knew something was terribly wrong. He said he immediately started making his way down the building, assisting others along the way and noted how “everyone was the same color” when he made it outside to the rubble and ash covered streets. After 9/11, his life turned into a downward spiral as he struggled with addiction and homelessness. Today, he said he is clean, volunteers helping teens with addiction and talking with them about survival – even as he survives every day without a home and wondering about his next meal.

We received an extraordinary financial donation from a close friend of one of our volunteers. The friend owns a restaurant in Florida, knows about our monthly Soup Run and donated money that was inadvertently left by a customer on the counter of the restaurant. When the money was not claimed for quite some time, the restaurateur gave the money to our volunteer so that she could provide clothing for the homeless. The restaurant owner wishes that the customer who left the cash behind knows that the money has been put to very good use. What an amazing gesture!

Every month we are grateful to all who so generously support, through their actions and their offerings, the mission of the Soup Run. This month’s outreach was made possible by supporters and volunteers from Westchester County, NY; New York City; Norwalk, CT; New Jersey; Washington, DC; and Clearwater Beach, FL.
Please join us on June 27th.