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FEEDING BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT

since 1982

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Dear Friends,


As September comes to a close, we are reminded that change is in the air—the days are getting shorter, and soon, shorts will be traded for jackets. Change can be difficult, but at St. John’s Bread & Life, we’ve embraced it in positive ways. This year, we enhanced our intake system to make accessing services easier for our guests, introduced language options for our pantry, and adjusted our mother/baby program to meet the growing demand for diapers and other essentials.


Yet, with the challenges of government funding cuts—some programs seeing reductions of up to 49%—and the rising number of people in need, our mission has never been more crucial. Despite these obstacles, we remain unwavering in our commitment to ensure no one is turned away, continually seeking partnerships to support our vital work.


Take Mary, for instance, a Bread & Life guest whose name we change to protect her privacy. After facing personal tragedy and living on the streets, she found refuge at Bread & Life. Today, she is housed, receiving benefits, and rebuilding her life, thanks to the food, clothing, and support she received from our team. Her story is just one example of how we continue to provide a lifeline to those most in need.


September is Hunger Action Month, a time to reflect on the generosity of our supporters, volunteers, and staff, who make an impact daily. Our Fill The Truck campaign is going strong, raising critical awareness of hunger in our communities and providing 75,000 meals to those in need. It’s important to remember that although the pandemic feels distant, its effects still linger—1 in 5 seniors and 1 in 4 children continue to face food insecurity, with rising costs making it harder for families to afford healthy meals.


During this time, we also honored the memory of Fr. Mike Whelan, a beloved Vincentian at St. John’s who dedicated his life to service. In a beautiful tribute, an anonymous donor sponsored over 1,500 meals in his name on September 11. We are even considering creating a Fr. Mike Whelan Day in his honor.


Our Mixer for Meals event, held this month, raised over $65,000—funding more than 50,000 meals for our neighbors in September and October. Special thanks go to the hardworking event committee and our honorees, Kenny Peng and Nancy Lara, for their dedication and generosity. We are already looking forward to next year’s event, set for September 18, 2025!


As Mother Teresa once said, "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a pebble across the waters to create ripples." Together, with your continued support, we can cast stones that create positive ripples throughout our community.


With a joyful heart and deepest gratitude,


Sr. Caroline Tweedy, RSM

Executive Director


The Fill the Truck campaign is going strong, and thanks to your generous support, we're close to reaching our goal! Your contributions have brought us within reach of our $25,000 target, helping us continue to provide essential food and services to our guests.


What’s truly inspiring is the diverse group of donors, supporters, staff, volunteers, and our board who have rallied behind Fill The Truck. New York is a vibrant melting pot of cultures, and we are blessed that this diversity is reflected in the incredible community of compassion that supports Bread & Life. Together, we showcase the strength and unity that make Bread & Life’s work and our shared mission possible!

 

If you haven’t yet had the chance to give, now is the perfect time. Your kindness and commitment could make all the difference for someone who might otherwise go without a meal.

Honoring FR. Michael Whalen, CM

A 9/11 Survivor's Gift of 1,500 Meals on this day of remembrance.


On this 23rd anniversary of the September 11th attacks on our beloved city, a generous and anonymous donor, who is also a volunteer and 9/11 survivor, has donated funds to provide 1,500 meals in honor and memory of their dear friend and mentor, Fr. Michael Whalen, CM. This heartfelt gift embodies the compassion for which Fr. Whalen was so deeply cherished and serves as a powerful expression of love and care for our neighbors on this solemn day of national remembrance.

Supporter Spotlight:

Sisters of Mercy Celebrate Jubilees by Giving Back

On behalf of St. John’s Bread & Life, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas for your generous support of our Fill The Truck campaign, in honor of the many sisters who recently celebrated their Jubilees. Your ongoing dedication to our mission, along with the support of religious communities like yours, continues to make a profound impact on the lives of those we serve. We are deeply grateful for your partnership in bringing hope and nourishment to our most vulnerable neighbors. Thank you for standing with us in service!

"The Sisters of Mercy from the Brooklyn and Long Island area recently celebrated Jubilees, marking 50 to 85 years of service. It is our tradition to make a donation in honor of these milestones to a selected charity, and this year we have chosen St. John’s Bread and Life. We made this choice because we see your organization as one that provides immediate, direct support to our most vulnerable neighbors. The growth and expansion of your services reflect the commitment and mission-driven vision of your leadership and staff. Congratulations to all of you for truly bringing this mission to life!" - Sr. Margaret Ann & Sr. Lee


"The tender Mercy of God has given us one another." - These beautiful words of our foundress, Catherine McAuley, challenge us to care for the hungry and vulnerable among us. Catherine's words remind us that we must reach beyond our comfort zone and bring help and healing to those who need food, clothing, employment, and in the words of Catherine, a ‘gentle hearing of their sorrows.’ Knowing how the ministry of St. John's Bread & Life lives out these words of Catherine McAuley has inspired and encouraged our parish to donate gift cards for an area supermarket. This is a small way for us to support the wonderful ministry of St. John's Bread & Life. - Sr. Barbara Faber, Our Lady of Peace, Lynbrook

We are thrilled to announce that the Sisters of Charity, Halifax, have generously donated $5,000 to support our Fill the Truck Campaign! This incredible contribution aligns with their mission of providing direct service to those in need and will make a significant impact in our efforts to fight hunger. We are deeply grateful for their support and commitment to our cause.


We are excited to share that the inaugural Mixer For Meals event was a wonderful success. In no small part due to our hardworking event committee and our honorees, Nancy Lara and Kenny Peng, whose dedication and generosity are truly inspiring.


We extend a heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, attendees, and donors for your unwavering support, which has helped to provide over 52,000 meals directly to our guests. We truly couldn’t have done this without you.

 

Together, we’re creating a stronger, healthier community. Thank you for standing with us in this vital mission. We are already looking forward to next year’s event, set for September 18, 2025!

SEPTEMBER VOLUNTEERS

Donate Now!
or text HUNGER to 44321

For volunteering, contact:

Renelle Merstil at rmerstil@breadandlife.org

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