| | |
FEEDING BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT
since 1982
| | |
Dear Friends,
As we step into a new year, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the light we can share with those who come to Bread and Life seeking comfort, nourishment, and hope. In a world that often feels burdened by division, violence, and isolation, our community continues to be a place where compassion takes root and grows. Every day, our staff shows what it means to meet others with dignity, respect, and genuine human connection.
In 2025, more than 476,000 visits were made to Bread and Life for emergency food, referrals, case management, and just as importantly, connection. Connection is what reminds our guests that they are not alone. It offers reassurance that someone will walk beside them, listen to their worries, and help guide them toward stability and strength.
While government funding continues to decline, we are encouraged by signs of progress. Efforts within New York State such as strengthening Nourish NY and SNAP bring hope to the families and individuals who count on these supports. Every step forward matters. These safety nets keep people from falling further into poverty.
This past year was not without challenges. Reductions funding stretched our resources further than ever before. Yet thanks to extraordinary in‑kind support and the unwavering dedication of our remarkable staff, we continued delivering high‑quality services without turning anyone away. One guest captured our mission perfectly when he said, “You may come for one thing, but you always leave with something.” His words honor the heart and commitment of our team.
There was also so much to be grateful for:
Our Mobile Market served 13% more individuals, reaching 113,000 people with fresh produce, dairy, and essential items. Our hot meal programs provided 359,000 meals on‑site and through our Mobile Soup Kitchen, ensuring that no one who was hungry went without food. Our digital‑choice pantry supported 66,000 families, offering the dignity of selecting foods that meet their cultural and household needs; while distributing 4.5 million meals and 5 million pounds of food and we embarked on a new partnership with St. John’s University, helping to establish Vincent’s Table, modeled on Bread and Life and created to support students facing food insecurity.
We are humbled to have once again earned the highest ratings from Candid and Charity Navigator, affirming our commitment to transparency, integrity, and mission-driven service.
Thank you for supporting us. Your generosity, your belief in our work, and your compassion make every moment of service possible. Together, we continue to show that hope is stronger when it is shared and that every act of connection has the power to change a life.
As we look toward 2026, may we keep planting those seeds of hope. “Every genuine connection plants a seed of hope strong enough to change a life.” Here’s to a year filled with new connections, renewed purpose, and lives transformed.
With heartfelt gratitude,
| | |
Sr. Caroline Tweedy, RSM
Executive Director
| | ......................................................................................................................................... | | |
Dear Friends,
As we approach the season of Lent, please consider joining me by living out the mandate to love one another. Just think of the change in the world if we did just one of these things….
Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned, bury the dead, educate others, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive all injuries, and pray for the living and the dead.
With gratitude,
| | | |
Sr. Caroline Tweedy, RSM
Executive Director
| | ......................................................................................................................................... | | ......................................................................................................................................... | | |
The Impact of Our
29th Annual Sponsor a
Family Holiday Program!
| | |
Because of your generosity, this past Christmas was filled with hope, dignity, and joy for our neighbors in need. Together, you helped ensure that 750 families and more than 1,500 children could celebrate the season with warmth and abundance.
Through your support, 4,500 holiday meals were served, 1,500 gifts were placed into the hands of children, and an additional 1,000 meals reached our elderly and homeless neighbors. Even amid SNAP challenges and government rejections, we remained steadfast in our mission—never turning anyone away.
We invite you to watch this special video message and reflect on the lives you helped uplift. From all of us at St. John’s Bread & Life, thank you for standing with our community. Here’s to continuing the mission of dignity, respect, and compassion in the year ahead.
| | |
We are deeply grateful to Chobani for their generous grant in support of St. John’s Bread & Life’s emergency food programs. Their commitment is helping ensure that thousands of New Yorkers facing food insecurity can access nutritious meals and critical support when they need it most.
Across the United States, Chobani has built a strong reputation not only for producing high-quality food, but for leading with purpose—investing in communities, supporting hunger-relief efforts, and championing access to nutritious food for families in need. Their partnership reflects a shared belief that no one should go hungry and that strong communities are built when businesses and nonprofits work together.
Chobani’s support is making a tangible difference for our guests, and we are truly grateful for their generosity and for standing with St. John’s Bread & Life in our mission to fight hunger and build hope across Brooklyn and beyond.
| | Expanding Access to Nutritious Food Across New York with the | | | |
We are proud to share that St. John’s Bread & Life has been selected as a 2025–2026 grantee of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation! 🎉 This generous support will help us sustain and expand access to healthy, nutritious food for New Yorkers facing the greatest barriers to care—strengthening health, dignity, and stability for our neighbors and communities.
We are deeply grateful to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for believing in our mission and investing in our work. Their partnership makes it possible for us to reach more individuals and families with the nourishment and support they need to thrive.
As Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, Chief Executive Officer of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, shared:
“Our grantee partners are navigating an incredibly challenging landscape, and yet their commitment to serving their communities continues to deepen. These grants demonstrate our resolve to stand with them by addressing urgent needs today, while strengthening the systems and workforce that will support New Yorkers’ health for years to come.”
We are honored to stand alongside the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation in building a healthier, more equitable New York.
| | |
With Gratitude to the
Moses L. Parshelsky Foundation
| | |
We are deeply grateful to the Moses L. Parshelsky Foundation for awarding a grant to St. John’s Bread & Life in continued support of our work. This generous investment helps sustain our programs and ensures that we can continue providing nutritious food and critical services to New Yorkers facing food insecurity. Ongoing support like this strengthens our ability to serve our neighbors with dignity and care, and we sincerely thank the Moses L. Parshelsky Foundation for their partnership and belief in our mission.
| | |
A NIGHT OF 1000 OZZYS FOR A GREAT CAUSE AT
UNION POOL
| | We are incredibly grateful to Union Pool, one of our valued Mobile Market partners, for hosting the “Night of 1000 Ozzys” Food Pantry Benefit for St. John’s Bread & Life on December 21, 2025. The high-energy evening—featuring the Union Pool All Star Band playing an all–Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath set and guests dressed as their favorite Ozzy | | | |
—was both unforgettable and impactful, raising funds in support of our mission. Beyond the music and creativity, this event reflected Union Pool’s deep commitment to giving back and spreading positivity throughout the Brooklyn community. We are proud to partner with Union Pool and deeply thankful for their generosity, creativity, and dedication to helping feed our neighbors with dignity and care.
| | |
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the ORDER OF MALTA for their continued generosity and extraordinary commitment to St. John’s Bread & Life. Most recently, members of the Order braved a bitterly cold morning to deliver a large bulk donations of Italian food products and boxed Kraft macaroni and cheese—an essential staple for the families we serve.
| | Donations like these make an immediate and meaningful impact, helping ensure our shelves remain stocked so that no neighbor seeking help is ever turned away, especially during the cold winter months when need is at its highest. We are deeply grateful for the Order of Malta’s partnership, compassion, and unwavering support of our mission. | | |
THANK YOU
Community School District 18
| We are grateful to Community School District 18 for their generous donation of surplus dried fruit to St. John’s Bread & Life. This thoughtful contribution helps ensure that our neighbors have access to nutritious, shelf-stable food and prevents good food from going to waste. We deeply appreciate Community School District 18 for thinking of our community and for their commitment to supporting families in need. | | |
Repair the World NY -
MLK Weekend of Service
| | |
We were honored to partner with Repair the World NY during the Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service, as dedicated volunteers came together to support our mission with St. John’s Bread & Life. Throughout the weekend, volunteers generously gave their time and energy to assemble hygiene kits—providing essential items that help our neighbors maintain dignity and care during times of need. We are deeply grateful to Repair the World NY and their volunteers for standing with us in service, compassion, and community, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership in the months ahead.
| | |
Partners in Service: A Visit from
Resurrection–Ascension Church Pantry
| | |
Last week, we were delighted to welcome one of our Mobile Market partners, Resurrection–Ascension Church Pantry, to St. John’s Bread & Life for a facility tour.
Their team visited to learn more about our daily operations and explore ideas that could support and strengthen their own pantry services. It was a wonderful afternoon of connection, collaboration, and shared learning, as we introduced the Resurrection–Ascension team to our staff and walked them through the day-to-day work that powers our programs. We are grateful for the opportunity to exchange ideas and support one another as we continue working together to serve our communities with compassion and care.
| | |
We are proud to shine the spotlight on Eutan (Andrew) Woodley, who joined the St. John’s Bread & Life team in July of 2024.
In his role, Eutan supports our in-house guest mail service through data entry, sorting, and organization—helping ensure our guests remain connected to our vital resources and their personal correspondence in a safe, clean environment.
Known for being well spoken, health conscious, and always willing to lend a hand, Eutan also brings creativity and care beyond his daily responsibilities. From nurturing the plants around our office with his green thumb to sharing his smooth dance moves, he adds positivity and energy to our workplace. We are grateful for the dedication and heart he brings to our mission each day.
| | |
Throughout the end of December and
the month of January, gifts were made in honor
or in memory of the following individuals:
| | |
Patricia McLeron Castle
Eden Heller
Dan Hopkins
Hal Hopkins
Emmet Agoglia
Alice and Roger So
Mary P. Tobin
Josie Whittlesey
Jim and Maria
Barry Kolker
Ed Pauline and Dave Garea
Katherine Colosimo
Kristine Colosimo
Elizabeth Sugrue
Rino Grzinic
| | |
Lucy McDonald
Dr. Anthony & Mary Cordaro
Pamela Shea-Byrnes
James Poisal
Michael P. Honan
Kevin Reed
Michael P. Honan
Jim and Tom Swords
Michael P. Honan
Frances Fahey, SC
Michael P. Honan
Grandma Ruth
Chrisel Gladson
Chrisel’s Bridal shower
| | | | |
St. John's Bread & Life volunteers
| | | | |
