Last Night’s Soup Run

From November 18, 2022

It was an extraordinarily special evening of serving, listening and talking with our guests on 31st St. in Manhattan during last night’s Soup Run. Extraordinary - because we distributed 150 hot meals, 115 sandwiches, 130 toiletry kits— the most we’ve served in 16 years of the Soup Run. Extraordinary— because we were blessed to have His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros with us. He handed out meals, sandwiches and icons, asked our guests and volunteers for their names and talked with them, and walked throughout the crowded sidewalk making sure he connected with everyone. Extraordinary — because it was a joyful evening filled with purpose, compassion and love.

We served our regular men and women guests who are experiencing homelessness and we also served Venezuelan asylum seekers. They too are becoming our regulars— we recognized one another from last month and were happy to see each other. All were so appreciative of the food, clothing and toiletries we offered.

At one point, a Venezuelan guest asked us how she could help! She stood next to us and handed out toiletry kits, speaking Spanish with the others. We gave a young boy a stuffed animal and he was so excited that he opened his arms wide and hugged our volunteer. Parents with babies and children in pajamas asked for blankets and coats. A homeless man who spoke with the Archbishop excitedly told us “that man blessed me”.

At the end of the evening, when we had distributed every single item we had, an amputee in a wheelchair approached us asking for anything we had. He asked for food— we were out. He asked for clothing— we were out. He asked for a blanket— we were out, or so we thought. We checked our cars one last time and found a blanket in a bag that had been given to one of our volunteers. It is amazing and a blessing when we can take care of one more person!

The Soup Run is a labor of love all month long as we plan, gather and organize for the last Thursday of the month when we serve our guests. It is through the donations of those in the Holy Trinity community and beyond – including supporters and volunteers from across Westchester County, Queens, Long Island, New York City, Connecticut and New Jersey, those of various faiths and friends of friends, who make this important outreach a reality. This month we are grateful for the following supporters:

• Coverage: NYPD
• Financial Support
  • Minos Samoladas
  • Irene Drivas
• November Soup Run Sponsor:
  • Christina Krettecos White
  • Philoptochos of Holy Trinity New Rochelle, NY
• Meals/Sandwiches/Cookies/Water:
  • Manny Louros - Meals
  • Holy Trinity GOYA - Sandwiches
  • Kalliope Primis – Cookies
  • Fr. Andrew Harriott & Rhonda Williams (Sacred Light Fellowship) - Water
• Clothing/Shoes
  • Suzanne Negrin – Handknit hats, scarves, gloves
  • St. Nicholas (Wyckoff, NJ) – Sweatshirts
  • Alexis Livanos – Socks
  • Kaliope Kostas – Children’s Clothing
  • Melina Morris and Bombas (bombas.com)  - Socks and Underwear
  • Fr. Andrew Harriott & Rhonda Williams (Sacred Light Fellowship) - Sneakers
• Toiletry Kits/Personal Care Items
  • Georgeann Mavrovitis, Loredona Curtis, Alexandra Speres and Maryann Koutsis
  • Homeless Resource Handout - May Vlachos
  • Bags – FreshDirect (freshdirect.com)