The South Pine Street Childrens/Community Garden off of Greenkill Avenue in Ward 5 made a large food donation of Turnip Greens to Queens Galley.
South Pine Street Garden Makes First Food Donation to Queens Galley
Kitchen Area Soup Kitchens
Get Your Tickets to The Hudson Valley Hunger Banquet
Not a single member of our community should ever go hungry, and if Diane Reeder has her way no one will. Her tireless efforts and creative ideas fuel what is The Queens Galley, an organization that began back in 2003 and “provides awareness, education, relief and prevention of food insecurity in America. The Queens Galley supports, creates and implements programs dedicated to the affordable nutritional education of children, families and seniors”. It also happens to be one of the more unique soup kitchens in the State if not beyond. Since she launched it back in 2006, Diane provides three meals a day to anyone in need, no questions asked. No paperwork to fill and file. What’s more is it’s restaurant style, where folks are served what look like gourmet meals table side. With a focus on local and sustainable foods, Diane collaborates with local farms and farmers incorporating nutritious and seasonal items into each meal that the Galley creates.
As meaningful as the work is in our community, it is really just the tip of the iceberg of what this powerhouse of a gal accomplishes on the food security front.
One of her upcoming events, the “Hudson Valley Hunger Banquet” is an impressive effort. On Sunday, March 28, twelve hunger relief organizations in the Hudson Valley will come together to host the first collaborative hunger event, a Hunger Banquet at Backstage Productions. Few experiences bring to life the inequalities in our world more powerfully than an Oxfam Hunger Banquetevent. Unique and memorable, The Hunger Banquet event allows participants to experience firsthand how our decisions affect others in the world.
Upon arrival at the event guests draw tickets at random that assign them each to either a high-, middle-, or low-income tier-based on the latest statistics about the number of people living in poverty. Each income level receives a corresponding meal. The 15 percent in the high- income tier are served a sumptous meal catered by celebrated chef Samir Hrichi of Ship to Shore; the 35 percent in the middle-income section will dine on an offering from the Kingston Consolidated school lunch menu; and the 50 percent in the low-income tier help themselves to small portions of rice and water.
Their guest speaker, Chef Sarah Copeland (writer, blog author of edible living, recipe developer for the Food Network Magazine, spokesperson for the Food Network and Share Our Strength’s fight against childhood hunger, and a co-founder of our Good Food Gardens initiative).
Queens Galley, Family of Woodstock, Caring Hands Soup Kitchen, Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, Ulster Corps, Angel Food East, Saint James Food Pantry, Rosendale Food Pantry, People’s Place, Chiz’s Heart Street, God Given Bread Food Pantry and Libertyview Farm.
Caring For Your Community: Food Glorious Food
We lost one of our weekend soup kitchens on Pine Grove avenue located inside of the Church of the Holy Cross in Kingston. It’s the kind of loss that will no doubt be a major hit to our growing families in need. It was reported that they do hope to be up and running again in the future. Whatever the case, a big thank you is in order for Rev. Charles Arlin, his staff and all of the volunteers for providing food to those in need since 2002.
I want to ask our members to do one small thing right now. Take a moment to make plans to lend a hand; or to make donation of money or food to a local soup kitchen or food pantry near you.
For Kingstonians, consider Queens Galley who are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – offering three meals each day to anyone in need. No questions asked. I expect Diane to have more mouths to feed starting immediately due to Holy Cross’s kitchen closing. Can you help? Visit QUEENS GALLEY for more.
Other favorite and helpful locations is Chiz’s Heart Street on West Chestnut Street in Kingston. Chiz organizes a food pantry for those in need. We recently featured her on the KingstonCitizens.org blog. Visit: LEND A HAND TO HEART STREET
Below is a pretty comprehensive list of other soup kitchens and food pantries in the area. If there are any that you find are missing, feel free to add them in the comment section of this post.
Thanks.
– Rebecca Martin
FOOD PANTRIES AND FREE MEAL SITES IN THE KINGSTON AREA
Caring Hands Meal Site and Food Pantry
Clinton Avenue Methodist Church, 122 Clinton Avenue, Kingston NY
845-331-7188 Darleen Kelley Pastor
Lunch served Monday thru Friday about noon. Offerings range from the epicurean (a peppered split pea soup that they ought to bottle) through the misguided (slippery slop, a lovely dish you get when you don’t drain overcooked spaghetti before adding the sauce.) After lunch, the diners are given a choice of prepackaged goods from local supermarkets such as cookies, pies, brie cheese, salads, birthday cakes, quiches, etc.. There is also a table offering unlimited bread products and fruits and veggies in season. On request, a bag of food to take home will be given from the food pantry. If I manage to get it together, this will be the location for Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, a pet food pantry. Ambience of a medium security prison. Usual pronouncement, “If you don’t like eating here, go to the Blue Light Diner.”
Catholic Charities (two food pantry locations)
Patricia LaRue, director Mary Francis, Manager.
St. Joseph’s Mission Church Connifer Lane,
Hurley, NY
845-338-7121
Extensive food pantry (and even more extensive free clothing distribution!!) Open to the public Monday and Tuesday, 10-2 and Wednesday, 10-noon. Free clothing store only on Mondays. Consumers cn get two bags of food once a month (or sometimes more if they have a good enough story.) Offerings include peanut butter, frozen chopped meat, canned stew, canned fruits and veggies, and occasionally yogurt, cottage cheese, bread, or other items depending on availability. Also soap, toothpaste, and personal care items such as diapers, sanitary pads, mouthwash. Fresh fruit and veggies always welcome. Free clothing and food outreach on variousWednesdays at 1pm at the Everette Hodge MidTown Neighborhood Center on Prospect Street.
Special Needs Food Pantry
59 Pearl Street, Kingston, NY
845-340-9170
Doctor’s note required. Food pantry for diabetics, hypertension, obestiy, or other conditions requiring a special diet. Open Tuesday from 11 am to 3 p.m.
Animal Hospice of NY
PO Box 1463, Kingston, NY 12402
845-382-2435
Bruce Van Bramer, Director
This not-for-profit distributes food donated by area supermarkets. It primarily distributes the food to OTHER not-for-profits, such as Family of Woodstock. However, sometimes distributions on a limited basis of human and animal food can be arranged through the director, depending on his supply, which fluctuates. Because this location does active composting and feeding of farm animals such as pigs and goats, it welcomes donations of produce that is not quite ready for prime time.
The Queen’s Galley
254 Washington Avenue, Kingston, NY
845-338-3468
Diane Reeder, director
Meal site only. Serves three meals a day, 365 days a year. Including a mind-blowing thanksgiving banquet. China dishes, fabric tablecloths, real silverware, nutrition lessons. Meals served at 8a.m., 12 noon, and 5p.m.. Atmosphere of a rather hectic restaurant.
Pointe of Praise Family Life Center
243 Hurley Avenue, Kingston, NY
845-339-4615
Sandra Giles, Pantry Director
Monday through Friday, 9a.m. to 3 p.m. Superb access for persons with mobility challenges, but its out of town a bit.
Salvation Army of Ulster County
35 Cedar Street, Kingston, NY
845-331-1803
Open 9a.m. to noon daily
Peoples’ Place
Corner Broadway and St. James’s Street
Kingston, NY
845-338-4030
Peter Quinlan, Director
Food pantry open Mon. through Friday, 10a.m to 1 p.m. Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. It’s like applying for welfare. Also produce and bread occasionally available in the thrift shop that offers used clothing for sale. Wheelchair accessible.
St. James’s United Methodist Church
Corner Fair Street and Pearl
Kingston, NY
845-331-3030
The “new kid on the block” food pantry, available Sundays from 11a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kingston Seventh Day Adventist Church
24 West Union Street
Kingston, NY
845/339-4983
“Soup and Bread” meal site, Sunday’s at 11am – 2pm.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Family
32 John Street, Kingston, NY
845-338-2370
Michael Berg, Director
Does not have food distribution in Kingston, but does have it in Woodstock, New Patlz, Ellenville, and other locations. In Kingston will give a ticket good for some groceries at Hannaford. In Woodstock, every time you stop in there is coffee and pie or cake and free sandwiches available and a warm welcome, and FREE CLOTHING, tons of it.
Community Action
70 Lindsley Street, Kingston, NY
845-338-8750,
Provides services to the underprivileged including locating food sources.