Mission

The mission of the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is to feed the hungry, to comfort the afflicted, to seek justice for the homeless, and to counsel and provide a sense of hope and opportunity to those in need.

Highlights of 2006

Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen (HASK) served an average of 1,097 meals each weekday in 2006. These hot and nutritious meals, consisting of 2,000-2,500 calories, were served from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and sustained our guests for a 24-hour period. 

While New York City’s economy was at last on par with the rest of the country, the need for emergency food assistance persisted for many thousands of our neighbors. One of the major annual hunger studies for our city estimated a 40% increase in the number of people seeking food assistance in the five year span from 2001-2005 at the nearly 1,100 soup kitchens and food pantries in its study. A more recent 2006 annual study reported an estimated 11% rise in the number of people served; this increase followed a 6% increase from 2004 to 2005. Reflecting the tremendous demand, HASK served 285,155 meals in 2006, an increase of 5,596 meals over 2005.

HASK’s Counseling and Referrals (C&R) services held a record 5,685 sessions in 2006. These sessions assisted Soup Kitchen guests typically in finding shelter, clothing, food pantries, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, employment, and public benefits. In addition, there were another 2,644 sessions involving personal hygiene assistance, including the dispensing of razors, soap, toothpaste, and referrals for showers and haircuts – all matters of huge importance to our homeless guests in particular.

Volunteers in 2006 provided 55,334 hours of service – the sixth consecutive year that this number exceeded 50,000.  An average of 40-50 volunteers each weekday helped greet the guests, collect the numbered meal tickets given out to those waiting in line, serve food and beverages, refill water and milk pitchers, clean the tables, and listen to guests talk about their lives. Nine Assistant Volunteer Coordinators (AVCs) helped assign volunteer tasks and oversee the daily volunteer operation. One volunteer helped with data entry and reporting. Twelve volunteers worked as counselors in C&R services to help guests take the first steps toward getting their lives back on track.

HASK advocacy efforts in 2006 focused on making food stamps available to all eligible individuals including single male adults. We also worked to have the food stamp application reduced to one page and to eliminate the finger-printing requirement. In addition, as a result of our work with Picture the Homeless, a self-advocating group founded and operated by homeless and formally homeless persons, we developed a new approach/method for effective advocacy in which we have a “Daily Advocate” for each serving day. These five advocates research, identify, and condense issues and actions of the moment and consequently serve as a source of information and as organizers for volunteers and guests.  

Governance

The vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles serves as HASK’s board of directors. The vestry approves the Soup Kitchen budget as well as monitors the Soup Kitchen’s finances and program. The vestry met seven times in 2006. Its presiding officer is the Reverend Dr. William A. Greenlaw, rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles and HASK’s executive director. The clerk (secretary) of the vestry is Paula Schaap.  Members of the Vestry in 2007 are:  

Robert Chaloner

Tom Cunningham

Beth Diefendorf

Elizabeth Farren

Larry Gifford

Michael Gilligan

Denise Hibay

Richard Longinetti (warden and treasurer)

Muriel Moore (warden)

Stephen McFadden

Randy Parsons

Paula Pressley

Chad Rancourt

Shirley Swardenski