At Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry, volunteers are the backbone of all that we do. We recently sat down with one of our volunteers, Kathy, who first started volunteering with her husband when they first moved to the Chelsea neighborhood in 2016.
When asked what motivates them to volunteer, Kathy shared, “One of the primary differences between us and many of our guests is the circumstances we were born into. I was born into a highly supportive situation, and I feel that I have a responsibility to give back to those less fortunate. I can take what I have and help other people. That’s really what drives the mission here.”
Every morning at 9AM, a group of volunteers gathers to prepare for the day ahead. They come from throughout New York City and sometimes even from out of town, visiting us from other states and even countries, to lend a helping hand.
For Kathy, that community of volunteers is a huge part of what she loves about Holy Apostles. “I love meeting all the volunteers. Back in 2019, we met a young man who was on sabbatical to the United States from Austria. He volunteered her almost every day. We got to know him and had him over to our house for dinner during the holidays. My husband and I were struck by his generous soul and commitment to help those in need.
Providing food for our neighbors takes a village of committed and dedicated individuals – we’re grateful for the community we’ve joined as volunteers of Holy Apostles.”
Kathy and all our volunteers truly live out our mission to feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, seek justice for those experiencing homelessness, and provide hope and opportunity within our community. While reflecting on our mission, Kathy shared that she wished more people could experience the work that takes place each day at Holy Apostles. “I had preconceived notions about the guests that are served, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. You really don’t understand until you come and stand side by side with people.”
At Holy Apostles, our work is only possible through the dedication of so many individuals and groups. We’re thankful for all our volunteers and donors for making sure that our community has access to healthy and nutritious food.
