Soup Kitchen
Put your values to action by providing food and support to people in need around the New York campus neighborhood.
Program Highlights
The work of the Soup Kitchen is made possible through the generosity of our donors. The support of the students, faculty, administration, Board of Governors, Boards of Advisors, and friends of the College-Institute community ensure that the Soup Kitchen is able to provide meals to our guests throughout the year. We hope you will consider a gift to support this important work. Donate to the Soup Kitchen via our donation form.
If you prefer to make a donation by check: Please make your check payable to “Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion” with “Soup Kitchen” in the memo field and mail it to the following address:
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
One West Fourth Street
New York, NY 10012
Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah said…
“Without bread, there is no Torah. Without Torah, there is no bread.”
Mishnah Avot, 3:17
Every Monday evening, the Soup Kitchen welcomes approximately 100 guests – whether homeless or simply in need of a meal. In autumn, winter, and spring, we serve a hot meal, with an emphasis on nutrition: salad, main course, and side dishes, as well as supplementary fruit, cookies, milk, juice, coffee, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. During the summer, we serve bagged sandwiches, fruit, cookies, and drinks.
Volunteers from around the New York area, including high school and college students, help HUC-JIR students and community volunteers prepare and serve meals. In addition, volunteers assist in running our Clothing Closet.
We invite you to join our efforts. The following is our schedule:
| Time | Work |
| 3:15 pm | Begin hot meal and salad preparation. Set up the dining area and Clothing Closet. |
| 4:15 | Visiting volunteer groups arrive for education and orientation sessions. |
| 5:00 | Guests arrive – greeted with smiles, and offered food, clothing, toiletries, and more. |
| 6:00 | Guests leave. Volunteers clean up the dining room, kitchen, and bathrooms. |
| 6:30 | Recap – reflective learning (often with pizza, as provided by visiting volunteer groups). |
*In the summer, we begin food preparation at 3:30 pm. We serve from 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm and clean up from 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm.
Does your youth group want to participate in a mitzvah? Please contact hucsoupkitchen@gmail.com.
Can’t come to HUC-JIR to volunteer? There are other ways to help! Our guests are in need of clothing, shoes, coats, and toiletries. Collect them, and we’ll be delighted to pass them out. To make a donation to the Soup Kitchen, please contact hucsoupkitchen@gmail.com.
For more information, please contact us at hucsoupkitchen@gmail.com.
