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The Caring Committee
About Us
Volunteer Opportunities
Related Links
Committee Chairpersons
Nathan Shapiro DDS
212 753-9285
Sharon Cooper
212 799 1482
sc@creativeartinc..com
Sam Goldstein
212 355-7397
About Us
We first opened our doors in 1983 in response to an appeal by the mayor for non profit organizations to temporarily help the city’s hungry and homeless. We served 6,800 meals during that initial year of operation. As the number of homeless and hungry increased dramatically over the past sixteen years the breakfast program has worked hard to keep pace. We are presently feeding approximately 16,000 meals per year. This increase illustrates both how serious the problem has become,and how valuable a service Central Synagogue is providing.

Since our fire in 1998 we have been serving from St Peters Church.who have also donated their facilities and maintenence staff, we are still using Central Synagogue staff and storage facilities. We are staffed by volunteers paying only security guards and a cook..We purchase our paper goods and bread from whoesale sources. A break down of our costs is available as well as our non-profit status certificate upon request.
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It has been estimated that 25% of the city’s homeless are employed. Our hours enable us to help that segment. of the population as well as those looking for work. Others coming to us can be taking the first step in socialization and an entry into functioning society. .At one point we had hoped to expand our services to include a demographic survey in conjunction with Hunter College,and to provide job and housing outreach services. We have had to scale back our expectations and now with your funding, we would hope to be able to continue to proivide food for this segment of our population that has come to rely on us

Volunteer Opportunities
We serve a hot nutritious breakfast and a take out bag lunch to approximately 300 needy individuals twice a week in a dignified friendly setting every Thursday and Friday morning from 5:30-8:15 a.m. Central Synagogue is the only food kitchen in the area that operates during this time. We have no restrictions as to who will be admitted, and no number limitations to restrict entry when a hungry person arrives at our door during our hours of operation. We never close for holidays. We have reset tables and managed to feed 400 people a morning on days when it was necessary. Our hot nutritious breakfast consists of beef stew on Thursday and cereal on Friday, bread and butter ,juice, and coffee (all you can drink), with a bag lunch containing a tuna fish or peanut butte rsandwich ,fruit,and cookies .

If you or someone you know is able to donate food ..in bulk or clothing items ( t shirts , sweaters, socks, underwear, pants, toothpaste ,basic necessities) Please contact us..link....

Expanded list of activities

We collect clothing (Mens prefered) and give them out to the needy
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About Us
Volunteer Opportunities
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