,

Last Night's Soup Run - Nov. 30

,

"Attitude is gratitude" was the theme of Last Night's Soup Run when one of our guests on 33rd Street told us how he tries to stay positive and how appreciative he was for the food we provided. We served 110 delicious meals of turkey, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots to the group that awaited us. Our caravan of five cars and 20 volunteers distributed hundreds of clothing items including new jackets, fleece-lined flannel shirts, sweaters, socks, t-shirts, pants and toiletries. As we parked our cars, some of our guests helped us unload them and others worked with us to distribute food and clothing.

Imagine our delight when Joan showed us the coat she was wearing which was one we had given her last month. She was proud and happy to be wearing a warm coat and thanked us again for giving it to her. 

We talked with Alberto, a former building Super, who lost his job, depleted his savings, has no family in New York, and has been living on the streets for five months. He met another homeless person one night who shared food with him and took him to a location where others live outside and in tents. Alberto is thankful that he has met good people on the streets who look out for one another. He also told us that "I pray to God every night to keep me safe until morning but I don't think he's listening to me." We suggested to him that God is listening because he is keeping him safe. Alberto, and all of our guests, need to be remembered in our prayers. 

One of our teenage volunteers gave a guest the gloves he was wearing and plans to return next month to give away all of his sneakers that he no longer wears. And we never know what to expect on the streets of New York...what requests will we receive and what stories will we hear. Last night one man asked us for teeth! 

Thank you to Angelika Kypar-Krischke, sponsor of this month's soup run, the many volunteers who serve and who organize the clothing and toiletries, and to the entire Holy Trinity community for being so supportive. We were able to purchase many clothing articles this month with the generous donation from one of our volunteers, Christian Glaser. Christian ran in the NYC Marathon earlier this month, established a Go Fund Me account and donated the money to the Philoptochos for use with the Soup Run. Thank you also to Alexandra Baudouin who provided a number of new coats, jackets and flannels. This month we also wish to give a very big thank you to George Kalyvas who completed his Eagle Scout project of creating a new storage solution for the Soup Run items. George installed rolling shelves, color-coded storage bins and a system that is efficient and well-organized. God bless you, George, God bless all of you! 

The annual Philoptochos "Hats & Gloves for the Homeless" sale will be held on Sunday, December 17 after Liturgy. We will be selling $5 gift sets of scarves, hats and gloves which are knit by the Knitting for Charity group. The sets will be distributed with a Christmas card to our guests on December 21. Please support this important outreach and join us next month. #lastnightssouprun

, ,

"Last Night's Soup Run" published

, ,

Holy Trinity Parishioner Despina Kartson publishes her memoirs of 10 years of Soup Runs!

THUMBNAIL_IMAGE.jpg

A memoir full of stories about the often-overlooked homeless population, Last Night’s Soup Run tells a tale of compassion and love via a collection of emails by Despina C. Kartson, a member of an outreach program that feeds the hungry on the streets of New York City.

Through these monthly Soup Runs over the last 10 years, the group has served more than 10,000 meals to their guests on 33rd Street. In these pages, you will learn about real people with real challenges. These individuals have taught Kartson so much, and she's privileged to pass their stories and lessons on to you. They are just like the rest of us, but they're often unseen -- passed over and lonely.

For years, via e-mails to the volunteers and supporters, Kartson has summarized the highlights of their Soup Runs. These first-person accounts offer a glimpse into the lives of those struggling every day with poverty and hunger. She has compiled those e-mails and accompanying comments from members of the outreach into Last Night’s Soup Runto inspire others to help the hungry and homeless. Whether it’s sharing one meal or starting your own Soup Run (which Kartson’s book will help you do), you can pass on this tradition of compassion, dignity, and love. Kartson's hope is that the compassionate among us continue to love them and feed them until none who walk among us are hungry or homeless.

By purchasing this book, you are helping the very people you're reading about: All proceeds go to Philoxenia, a nonprofit founded by Kartson, which provides funding for organizations that feed the hungry and care for the homeless.

,

Last Night's Soup Run - Oct 2017

,

by Despina Kartson

"I was waiting all month for your hot chocolate," said one of our guests during last night's soup run. Our hot chocolate with whipped cream, delicious meals and warm conversations are offered to our guests on the streets of Manhattan every month and last night we were blessed to feed 125 individuals. The hungry and homeless were waiting for us and we couldn't unpack quickly enough. Some helped us unpack and set up our tables, others helped maintain order.

We met Rick who sticks together with a small group of other homeless men who look out for each other on the streets. He told us they respect the police because the police respect them, understanding their situation and allowing them to sleep overnight on the subway. Sal, who emigrated to the US from Morocco, calls the subway his home. Three years ago he lost everything and after two weeks staying in a shelter, decided to live on the streets where he feels safer. He also talked about the disrespectful way in which shelter staff treat the homeless, saying "they think we were always homeless and that we are bums but they have no idea". Listening to Sal and Rick, we are reminded that whether it is a police officer, shelter worker or any one of us, treating the homeless with dignity and respect is one of the simple things they crave.

Another man told us how he manages to have a cup of tea every day. Buying his own tea bags, he gets a cup of hot water from Starbucks and saves the cup. When people ask him why he spent money on Starbucks, he is proud to explain his frugal approach to enjoying his simple pleasure - a cup of hot tea.

Robert has become one of our "regulars" over the last year. We have mixed feelings about seeing some of the same guests every month - we are happy to feed them one more time but we are concerned about their chronic homelessness and their mental and physical health. Robert is not in good shape at all. He has open wounds, won't allow us to give him a shirt and walks the streets wearing tattered and torn pants and remnants of a shirt. But he did let Fr. Patrick buy him a foldable wagon for his few possessions after he complained about his plastic bags falling apart. With all of his issues, Robert seeks us out every month and talks with Fr. Patrick and others. We are making small connections - he needs our prayers.

Thank you to all who are a part of our monthly outreach to the homeless including Manny, Zachary and Kelly for preparing the food, our anonymous sponsor of last night's soup run, and the many volunteers and supporters from the Philoptochos and Holy Trinity community. We are in need of warm clothing - sweat shirts, jackets, pants and socks. Please donate what you can of your time, talent and treasures. Join us on November 30th.

22730399_1871735966475496_8652106485076055265_n.jpg
,

Soup Run - July 2017

,

A large group was lined up and waiting for us at last night's soup run in Manhattan. We couldn't get to our usual spot because of an event at Madison Square Garden preventing access to the street so we relocated to our alternative spot a block away. The word was already out and by the time we arrived, our guests were waiting patiently. Some helped us set up tables and serve. Two tourists from North Carolina saw what we were doing and helped distribute socks. We served 125 sandwiches, fruit, granola bars, coffee and water with - - received with much appreciation.

We gave the special request items to those who had asked for sneakers and clothes and they were overwhelmed with gratitude. I saw more hugs between our volunteers and guests last night than ever before. 

At one point, we were reminded of the decency of those we serve and how they expect (and deserve) to be treated. We were taking a photo of a group talking with one of our volunteers, careful not to photograph their faces for privacy reasons. One of the homeless men stepped aside and quietly suggested that the next time we take pictures, we not take them of any of their faces. We showed him the photo that did not capture any faces, other than those of our own group, and assured him that we are always respectful of their privacy. The calmness and consideration he displayed during this exchange was a lesson, on several levels, for all.

Survival is what the homeless do on the streets of NY. They find ways to keep things together - whether it's creatively securing the belt they are wearing by inserting a pen through holes (Fr. Patrick bought the man a new belt!), or carrying around a folder of important personal papers including a social security card, or asking for extra granola bars and sandwiches for a meal the next day. We met the working homeless as well. One man, who delivers packages for Amazon, is happy to have a full time job but does not yet have enough money to open a checking account in order to rent an apartment so he sleeps on a friend's couch while he saves money. 

Thank you to all who gave of their time, talent and treasures yesterday as the sandwiches were prepared by Manny, Zachary, Kelly, Voula, Despina and her sons. Our loyal group of cheerful volunteers distributed toiletries, socks, men's and women's underwear, pants, shorts, shoes and flip flops - all donated or made possible through the monetary donations of individuals including Minos Samoladas. Thank you to Harry Wilson and family for sponsoring last night's soup run. Please join us on the last Thursday of the month - August 31 - when our guests will be expecting us. Share this with your friends #lastnightssouprun.

Soup Run - June 29

Last Night's Soup Run
by Despina Kartson

Our caravan of 5 cars and 17 volunteers left Holy Trinity last night and served more than 100 meals to our guests on 33rd Street in Manhattan during last night's soup run. We took 10 bins of new socks, underwear and clothing, which were distributed in record time, to the large crowd that was lined up and waiting for us when we arrived. We also provided whistles and toiletries, all received with much appreciation. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we packed a trunk full of kitchen items and drove the recipient to their new apartment. They were grateful and amazed with all they were given.

We happily reconnected with Judy, whom we haven't seen in a number of months. She and Richie have been dealing with significant health issues, spending much of the last year in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. Judy hopes that the worst is behind them and we will keep them, along with all we serve, in our prayers.

There were lots of people we met who were happy to see us on our regularly scheduled visit to receive our dinners - pasta with meat sauce and vegetables - and others who stopped by to talk about what we do and offer their support. We will be following up with one gentleman who has items he'd like to donate to us for the next soup run. And Louie, who leads a volunteer homeless outreach program in Manhattan, visited with us and helped organize our guests as we were in transit.

A special thank you to Ana Dimas for sponsoring last night's soup run and for her donation of the very useful Amazon food bags we now use to transport our meals. Thanks to Manny Louros for cooking, Cynthia Herzegovitch and Constance Mavrovitis for sorting and organizing the clothing donations and the large group of volunteers who spent their evening with our friends on 33rd Street. Please join us on Thursday, July 27th.

Soup Run Update - April 27

by Despina Kartson

We arrived at 33rd Street to music and celebratory NY Rangers fans enjoying themselves outside of Madison Square Garden. And just down the street stood our faithful guests, lined up, waiting for our meals and clothing for last night's soup run. A couple of men immediately helped us unload our cars and set up.

More than 120 meals of chicken, rice and vegetables were served and we could have given out more. We distributed numerous clothing items - socks and underwear being the most requested. Mario asked us if we had size 12 sneakers and we promised to bring a pair next month. A woman told us she was exhausted, took her shoes off briefly while she slept at a shelter and woke to find that her shoes had been stolen. She was relieved to find a pair of flip flops to wear and said, without any signs of animosity, that the person who took her shoes must have needed them more than she did. Another woman asked for extra underwear for her 17 year old twin daughters in the shelter. When asked about their safety and their situation, she said that her 19 year old daughter and 27 year old son also live in the shelter because they cannot afford housing and they look out for each other.

At one point in the evening, a few people were gathered around one of our volunteers in what appeared to be an intense conversation. When another volunteer asked if everything was OK, and it was, one of the guests said "You don't need to worry, we will take care of you. We know you are good people and we won't let anything happen to you."

Many extraordinary events and experiences touch us during our monthly soup runs and we always know that the hand of God is providing, often when we least expect it. At the end of the evening when we had distributed every item we thought we had brought with us, we were talking with Claudette. She asked if we had a suit for her grown son who needed a suit to attend a wedding. Just as we were about to tell Claudette that we were completely out of clothing, we recalled that we inadvertently took from the basement a very nice suit jacket and pair of slacks. We didn't plan to take it to 33rd Street but we did and it was hanging in one of our cars. We gave it to Claudette who could not have been more appreciative and truly delighted to have found a suit for her son.

Thank you to the wonderful volunteers from the Holy Trinity community, Manny Louros for the delicious meal, Demetra Ventresca for sponsoring the soup run, Eirini Metaxas for the icons and Minos Samoladas for his generous donation.

A few of our guests said they heard last night was our final night and that we would not be there over the summer. We told them we are faithful to them and will provide food and clothing during the summer and all year long - we don't take the summer off because there is no time off for those who are hungry. Please join us on May 25.

Cooking For Hope Update

During the Lenten season, God asks us to give a little more of ourselves.  

Our last session was Thursday, April 6. Our numbers were few due to inclement weather, however we were still able to accomplish the task at hand!  Sign up now to join us for our next session on Thursday, May 11 at 6:00pm.