St. John's Bread & Life | August E-Newsletter

FEEDING BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT

since 1982

Dear Friends,

"And now we welcome the new year full of things that have never been." — Rainer Maria Rilke

I ended my last letter with this beautiful quote, knowing that the summer months would bring both possibility and challenge for many of the families who turn to Bread & Life. For young mothers with newborns and small children, the summer can be especially difficult. The cost of diapers, wipes, formula, food, and basic household essentials continues to place a heavy burden on families who are already working hard to make ends meet. Thanks to the generosity of the Sisters of Charity of Halifax, the Sisters of Mercy, and the parish community of Our Lady of Peace in Lynbrook, led by Sr. Barbara Faber, RSM, Bread & Life has remained a lifeline for so many families. Over the past year, the number of young mothers coming to us for help has increased by 20%. This year alone, we supported more than 1,500 families on a regular basis by providing diapers, wipes, baby clothing, toiletries, hot meals, pantry services, and other essential supports that help parents care for their children with dignity, comfort, and hope. Behind every number is a mother, a child, and a family doing their best. We are deeply grateful to everyone whose compassion and generosity make this work possible. Your support helps ease the anxiety of parents and reminds them that they are not alone.

During the month, we also held a special Christmas in August celebration, providing toys to children whose families are members of our food pantry. This joyful surprise was made possible through our friend Linda Laviolette and the Compassion Coalition. The toys brought smiles to children’s faces and a sense of relief to parents who were looking for ways to bring joy to their children during the long, hot summer days. We are so grateful to Linda and the Coalition for their kindness and for helping create such a memorable day for our families.

Since our last e-news letter, we were honored and grateful to welcome Assembly Member Stefani Zinerman, who volunteered her time alongside National Grid and student volunteers who worked with our dedicated kitchen staff. Assembly Member Zinerman rolled up her sleeves and helped prepare 1,500 hot meals that were distributed to our neighbors. Her presence in the kitchen was a meaningful reminder that service is most powerful when it is personal, hands-on, and rooted in care for the community.

As we look ahead, we are excited to gather for our Third Annual Mixer 4 Meals on October 8th at Lolita NYC. This year, we are delighted to honor Frank Fellone Jr. and Frank Fellone III, a remarkable father-and-son duo whose generosity and commitment to community have made a lasting difference. Through their work with Flag Restoration, and through

their personal dedication to many worthy causes, they have helped strengthen neighborhoods and support organizations that serve people in need.

I hope you will consider joining us on October 8th at Lolita NYC for an evening of good food, friendship, and purpose. Your presence will help support our emergency food programs and ensure that Bread & Life can continue to respond with compassion, dignity, and hope to all who come to our doors.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Sr. Caroline Tweedy, RSM

Executive Director

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Get Ready to Fill The Truck!

September is Hunger Action Month, and

St. John’s Bread & Life is getting ready to kick off our annual

Fill The Truck campaign.

Every day, New Yorkers turn to SJBL for hot meals, pantry groceries, and the dignity of knowing where their next meal will come from. This September, we’ll once again call on our community to help fill the SJBL truck from floor to ceiling with food—and raise critical funds to support our hunger-relief programs.

Every dollar donated and every item collected will help put nourishing food on a neighbor’s table, keep our pantry shelves stocked, and bring hope to New Yorkers facing hunger.

How You Can Help

Donate Online
Collect and drop off food at St. John’s Bread & Life
Host a Fill The Truck drive at your workplace, school, congregation, or community organization
Invite friends and family to participate
Spread the Word on social media using #FillTheTruckNYC

Fill The Truck officially launches September 1.

Watch your inbox and follow us on social media to learn how you, your workplace, school, congregation, or community group can get involved.

Together, we can FILL THE TRUCK, Feed our Neighbors,

and Fill New York with hope.

At St. John’s Bread & Life, we believe no one should face hunger or hardship alone. Each year, we provide millions of meals and critical support services to thousands of New Yorkers through programs including our Digital Choice Food Pantry, Mobile Market, Grab & Go meals, Mobile Soup Kitchen, and comprehensive social service assistance. Rooted in dignity, compassion, and efficiency, our mission is to nourish bodies, restore hope, and strengthen communities across Brooklyn and Queens.

We invite you to join us on Thursday, October 8th, 2026 for our 3rd Annual Mixer For Meals — an inspiring evening of networking, hospitality, and purpose. Bringing together friends, supporters, and leaders from across the business community, this special event directly supports our hunger relief and community programs. Every ticket purchased, sponsorship secured, and contribution made helps provide nutritious meals, fresh food, and essential services to New Yorkers facing food insecurity and financial hardship.

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A very special delivery recently arrived at St. John’s Bread & Life: five pallets of brand-new toys for children ages 2–13, generously provided through Compassion Coalition.

The toys are being shared with families in our community, bringing a little extra joy to children while helping parents and caregivers stretch already-tight household budgets.

We are incredibly grateful to the team at Compassion Coalition for making this generous donation possible, as well as CHiPS (Community Help in Park Slope) for helping coordinate the distribution from the Brooklyn Navy Yard. We also thank everyone at SJBL and across our community partners who helped with the logistics of getting these toys into the hands of local families. Partnerships like these are a wonderful reminder of what can happen when organizations come together to care for their neighbors.

We are incredibly grateful to

Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Lynbrook, New York

and Sister Barbara Faber, RSM, Director of Parish Social Ministry, for their continued generosity and steadfast partnership with

St. John’s Bread & Life.

Year after year, Sr. Barbara and the parish’s dedicated social ministry volunteers rally their community to provide grocery store gift cards, baby essentials, hygiene products, school supplies, and other much-needed items for our guests.

Their generosity goes far beyond the items they collect. Each donation helps a family stretch a limited budget, gives a parent one less expense to worry about, and ensures children have the essentials they need to thrive. Sr. Barbara and the entire Our Lady of Peace community show what compassion in action truly looks like. We are deeply thankful for their friendship, their commitment, and the many ways they continue to help us serve our neighbors with dignity and care.

Connecting our Neighbors to Resources

at the National Night Out 2026!

We were proud to have Carmen Hernandez, one of our dedicated Case Managers, represent St. John’s Bread & Life at the NYPD 81st Precinct’s National Night Out 2026, sponsored by One Brooklyn Health.

Carmen connected with community members, shared valuable information about our programs and services, scheduled appointments, and helped raise awareness of the resources available at Bread & Life.

We are honored to join our fellow community organizations and neighbors at events like these, which allow us to bring our mission beyond our doors and connect those in need with the support and resources they deserve.

A heartfelt thank-you to the Sisters of Mercy for generously hosting St. John’s Bread & Life for our two summer BBQs at their pool and cabana!

We had a wonderful time enjoying great food, laughter, and each other’s company outside of our usual work environment. These gatherings gave our staff and team members a special opportunity to relax, connect, and celebrate the community we’ve built together. We are so grateful for their hospitality and for helping make these summer gatherings so memorable!