In January, many of us reflect on what we accomplished in the previous year. For Soup Kitchen in Provincetown (SKIP), 2024 was a year of several significant accomplishments. SKIP began 2024 serving more than 200 meals per day, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. That’s tremendous growth for an organization that was founded 32 years earlier serving only soup and a sandwich to a handful of people.

In May, SKIP benefited from a very special event at the Mary Heaton Vorse House. Sponsored by Plush and Anchor2Anchor, it featured a preview of Summer 2024 designs by Provincetown designers and brands. The event included an auction, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and special-guest hosts.

During the Summer, SKIP began testing a new home-delivery program, providing nutritious meals to those with health, mobility and other qualifying issues. This successful new program now serves more than 40 people every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the year.

On the first Monday in November, SKIP reopened its usual dine-in and take-out service with an outstanding new chef, Raul Garcia. Raul studied at California’s Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. More recently, he was Chef at Provincetown’s Strangers and Saints. His experience also includes years as Lead Chef at two popular former Provincetown restaurants, Backstreet and Café Edwidge. Raul’s extensive experience shows through in the delectable meals earning praise from new and longtime SKIP diners.

In December, SKIP once again participated in Provincetown’s Holly Folly event with its Souper Saturday. Soup donated by more than 25 of Provincetown finest restaurants and businesses was sold in cups at Tin Pan Alley, while pianist Jim Brosseau provided holiday music. Just a few steps away, quarts of soup were sold at the Old Firehouse. It was the most successful “Souper” ever!

In addition to these accomplishments, SKIP maintained and expanded a host of services, including: distributing supermarket gift cards to recipients identified by Helping Our Women (HOW) and our local Jamaican church; supporting Crop Swap, a year-round, free provider of fresh fruit and vegetables, located at the Provincetown Public Library; and monitoring our guests’ health and wellness with twice-monthly blood-pressure screenings, advice and referrals by a registered nurse.

SKIP’s banner year closed, alas, on a note of sadness, with the loss of one of its longest-serving volunteers, Chris Pula. He will be sorely missed by everyone in the soup-kitchen community. (Read more about the colorful Chris and his dynamic career elsewhere in this newsletter.)

Along with the SKIP Board of Directors, I wish you a happy and healthy 2025!

Phil

 SKIP Chairperson

Please take a moment to let us know your favorite meals and share your thoughts. Your input will help us improve and tailor our menu to better serve our community. Forms will also be available in the dining room.

On December 29, we were saddened to learn that Soup Kitchen in Provincetown (SKIP) lost one of its longest-serving volunteers, Chris Pula. He was 69 years old, and he volunteered at SKIP since he came to Provincetown almost 22 years ago.

Chris almost never missed a week and often volunteered several days a week. His long days started with setting up the dining room and ended with bussing tables. He made announcements that could always be counted on for a laugh or two. He will always be remembered for out of nowhere singing at the top of his lungs the first two lines of the song “Everybody Dance Now”. People would laugh at that, and join in.

But Chris was much more than a comedian. He had a very successful career before moving to Provincetown. In his early career, Chris worked with Ted Turner at CNN in Atlanta. He then moved to New York City and Grey Advertising where he worked on the launch of “Beverly Hills, 90210”. That success prompted Barry Diller to recognize Chris’s worth and bring him to Hollywood at Fox. Chris then found a niche at the New Line Cinema, where he made his mark on films like “Seven”, “The Mask” and “Dumb and Dumber”.

Chris was also known for his boundless generosity toward both SKIP, its volunteers and other members of our community. And the door to his home was always open—often literally: Many will recall seeing the hand-puppet poised in the open top of the Dutch door of his home on the east end of Commercial Street in Provincetown.

SKIP extends its heartfelt condolences to Thom Biggert, his partner of 46 years, who is also a hard-working SKIP volunteer. Chris will be missed by everyone at SKIP and by so many others in Provincetown whose lives he touched.

We are excited to introduce our newest Shift Coordinators: Joy Esper and Garry Sabatini! Joy is our new Tuesday Coordinator and has been a dedicated SKIP volunteer for 4 years. Garry has volunteered with SKIP for 3 years and will be leading as our Wednesday Coordinator.

They join our current team of amazing Shift Coordinators:

• Monday – Terry Cline
• Thursday – Mary Ashley
• Friday – Eric Cordes

Shift Coordinators play a vital role in ensuring SKIP lunch service runs smoothly. They assign volunteers to stations, make sure all tasks are covered, and handle various responsibilities like:

• Working behind the serving line
• Delivering trays of food from the warming oven
• Refilling soup, trays, plates, and bowls
• Serving sauces or condiments
• Stepping in to help wherever needed

Please join us in welcoming Joy and Garry to their new roles and thanking them for stepping up to take on this important position!

Please remember SKIP in your year end tax donations. We’re so grateful for your support — you make everything we do possible! Last year, your generosity helped us serve over 26,000 meals, fight food insecurity, and support our community during the off-season.

This year, your donations will continue funding weekday lunches, weekend to-go meals, and other essential programs like:

• Meal Delivery for those with mobility or health challenges
• Food Gift Cards distributed through local organizations
• Fresh Produce via the Crop Swap at Provincetown Library
• Health & Wellness checks and NARCAN training
• Outreach Partnerships with groups like HOW and the Homeless Prevention Council

Your support is a lifeline to so many in need. 

(SKIP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and your donation is tax-deductible.)

Homeless Prevention Council

The Homeless Prevention Council has office hours in Provincetown from 10 - 2 Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday at the Provincetown United Methodist Church. For more information, please refer to their website. www.hpccapecod.org/provincetown-community-support

Crop Swap

Crop Swap is Ptown’s source for fresh, uncut fruits and vegetables and is open year round. Sponsored by the Ptown Health Department, the Ptown Public Library and SKIP, anyone may donate fresh fruits and vegetables, and all are welcome to take what they need. All fruits and vegetables are free. Please bring your own bag.

Crop Swap is located in the Ptown Library, 356 Commercial Street, to the left as you enter the front doors. Hours are:

Mondays & Fridays: 10-4:30

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays: 10 - 7:30

Saturdays & Sundays: 1 - 4:30

There is a refrigerator for perishable items and shelves with bins for non-perishables, such as potatoes and squash. Be sure to take advantage of this valuable resource. 

RAUL GARCIA, Executive Chef | JOHN STRUMWASSER, Office Coordinator

DIDIER CORALLO, Dishwasher/Utility Person

SKIP Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 10-2/Phone: 508.487.8331

If you'd like to contact the editor, please email us at newsletter@skipfood.org.