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Volunteers Build Soup Kitchen

“Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words in mind, Food Bank For New York City called on staff, volunteers, community partners and sponsors to build the only soup kitchen in Hunts Point and expand its only food pantry, at Bright Temple AME Church.

Four hundred volunteers from across the five boroughs came together as one community to lend a hand painting, refinishing, prepping, cleaning, and completing outdoor improvement projects. Volunteer groups from JP Morgan Chase, Dunkin Donuts and Enterprise worked to renovate portions of the kitchen and dining areas.

Families, individuals and volunteer teams helped to remove more than 40 bags of leaves and build raised garden beds. Food Bank’s Board and Junior Board of Directors primed and painted, and child volunteers created placemats and painted lockers.  After 28 hours of volunteer work, the renovated space included newly framed windows and doors, lockers, wall sconces, newly paned windows, and curtains.

Food Bank For New York City is thankful to the following community partners and sponsors: Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Dunkin Donuts, New York Sight Seeing, Jamba Juice, Cosi, Liberty Farms, Apple Spice Junction, Lumber Liquidators, and Chelsea Clarke Photos.  Together, we’re making a real change in our community, and in ourselves.

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