Feeding the hungry-if only that were a priority
Newsweek’s Last Word with Anna Quindlen this week is,“Blessed is the Full Plate”.
She discusses the Church of the Holy Apostles in NY City where every weekday more than a thousand people eat:
The poor could be forgiven for feeling somewhat poorer nowadays. The share of the nation’s income going to the top 1 percent of its citizens is at its highest level since 1928, just before the big boom went bust. But poverty is not a subject that’s been discussed much by the current administration, who were wild to bring freedom to the Iraqis but not bread to the South Bronx. “Hunger is hard for us as a nation to admit,” says Clyde Kuemmerle, who oversees the volunteers at Holy Apostles. “That makes it hard to talk about and impossible to run on.
(snip)
This place is a blessing, and an outrage. “We call these people our guests,” says the rector. “They are the children of God.” That’s real God talk. The political arena has been lousy with the talk-show variety in recent years: worrying about whether children could pray in school instead of whether they’d eaten before they got there, obsessing about the beginning of life instead of the end of poverty, concerned with private behavior instead of public generosity.)
This is an especially poignant article pointing out the inconsistencies in the current administration regarding religion. Please go back and read the whole thing.
Now, what I would like you to connect to is the fact that, right here in Rochester, we have the Open Door Mission and they are always looking for donations and volunteers. We are our brother’s keepers, and as Stlo is fond of pointing out, we all do better when we all do better. So, here’s the skinny:
Open Door Mission: Ofc & Caring Center
www.opendoormission.com
156 Plymouth Ave N
Rochester, NY 14608
(585) 454-6696
Get directions
Give em a call.
Addendum: (hat tip to Paige) Another option is St Joseph’s Hospitality House.
And yet another option (h/t to Gerry) The Dimitri House.Â
I have a somewhat unusually large shoe size, about 14-15 depending on the maker. Large shoes such as mine are one of the most needed (clothing) items at local shelters. Perhaps because the number of homeless men has jumped, or maybe it’s because men with large feet typically don’t donate their excess goods, but, whatever the reason, you’re dead on about each of us doing our part. I’m a broke college student, but because I have freaky feet, I am able to help out in a way that some others can not. Each of us can find something, anything that can help enrich the lives of those who live among us. The key is motivating people to find their own way of helping.
Great post!
While I have no doubt that the Rochester Open Door Mission does good work, and is a needed resource in our community, I have heard from a friend who used to volunteer there that you have to sit and listen to religious sermons before you can receive your food. You can’t simply show up after the sermon and get fed. My friend has also volunteered at other kitchens for the homeless, and she likes those much better because they don’t put any strings on the food that they provide. I don’t remember the name of this other charity. But she won’t volunteer at the Open Door Mission again because of their proselytizing, and I don’t blame her one bit. I wouldn’t volunteer their either, as I don’t seem to share their values.
Paige,
I was not aware of this and totally agree, if this is the case. Do you have links to the other kitchens for the homeless? My feelings are that you have to feed the stomach in order for people to hear you anyway. Seems really stupid to me.
As I said, I do not remember the name of the other kitchen for the homeless where my friend works. I will attempt to find out for you.
Foodlink, Inc. is a local charity that donates a lot of food to our local poor.
http://www.foodlinkny.org/
Dimitri House, at 102 N. Union St., 325-1790, serves many of the poorest people in Rochester. Dimitri House provides food thru it’s food cupboard program, it’s a 7 bed men only overnight shelter, it’s also a “drop in” center 4 afternoons a week where many come to use the telephone, get assistance filling out forms, and are able to access mental health care providers in addition to having a safe place to hang out. Also, Dimitri House provides holiday baskets to hundreds during Thanksgiving & Christmas. Dimitri House is an independent, non-profit outreach and has been one of the most respected outreaches in the city since 1985. I know first hand - since I’ve volunteered there for the past 16 years.
My friend volunteers at St. Joseph’s Hospitality House on South Avenue
Hi! My name is also Paige and I know well of what you speak about open door mission. Not only does open door make you pray for quite awhile before they feed you but they also charge the homeless to sleep there. I last heard it was $5 a night after your 7 nights of free housing (7 in your entire lifetime). St. Joe’s is a better place to give assistance and dollars to because they don’t charge and are more compassionate. What would Jesus (Buddha, Ghandi or any deities) do? I bet they wouldn’t give to Open Door Mission.
Open door charges the homeless to stay there. They get 7 free nights in their lifetime and after that it is $3 a night and then 5 dollars a night. They get alot of donations and own alot of high coast property and benefit from all this publicity while they charge the homeless and put people out on the street if they have too high a tab (personally witnessed this). Ask some of the people that go there and you will find the truth. St. Joe’s House is a much better place to give your $$ to and to volunteer at.