The Kitchen at St. Mark's 2nd Largest Food Pantry in the Bay Shore Region

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Well, sometimes they only give a tiny glimpse of something. This photo shows a few volunteers at the Kitchen of St. Mark's in Keansburg, NJ. It's not a glamorous photo. Volunteering in a hot kitchen preparing and serving meals is a difficult job. Those in need are grateful to these wonderful souls that help to make it possible.

Judy Reichard one of our volunteer coordinating committee members visited The Kitchen at St. Mark’s recently. She said it was a pleasure to visit.  It is a non-profit Soup Kitchen and Emergency Food Pantry, which has been helping the people in the Keansburg area since 1994.  The Co-Directors are Nancy Mester and Doreen Minutella.  The kitchen serves a hot lunch six days a week and dinner twice a week.  It also has a Family Night program twice a month with activities for the whole family. Groceries are delivered twice a month to help those who can’t get out. 

There were 40 clients when Judy visited with George Betz her pastor at the Lincroft Presbyterian Church.  The clients enjoyed a great meal, cool temperatures on a 90+ degree day, and fellowship.  Other assistance is provided by a nurse and case workers who will help with many things including health questions, signing up for food stamps and information about other social services. 

Many other services are available like food baskets for holidays throughout the year, winter coats, clothing, household goods, a Christmas toy drive, which helped over 200 children last year.

The Kitchen at St. Mark’s is the second largest in the Bay Shore region.  9,248 meals were served in the first six months of 2012.  That’s 800 more than the first six months of 2011.  1,490 bags of groceries were handed out.  That’s 500 more than January to June last year.

We are thankful that the Kitchen at St. Mark’s is one of CROP’s partners.

Go to http://kitchenatstmarks.org for more information.