FEEDING BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT

since 1982

Dear Friends,

As I write this letter, we are just days away from Christmas, and I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported Bread & Life throughout the year. You have been our beacon of light in times of darkness, standing by us as we responded to the needs of even more of our neighbors during a period of reduced government funding. For that, we say THANK YOU.

As a Christian, I reflect on the Christmas story and the birth of Jesus. I often wonder if I could have done what Mary and Joseph did — traveling to a foreign land while expecting a child, with little support and an aching desire to return to the comfort and hope of home. Their journey mirrors the experiences of so many of our newest neighbors who seek safety, community, and the chance to live in peace. This year, my personal intention is to be more welcoming, more understanding, and more accepting of those who think or believe differently. In 2025, I hope to be more forgiving, more tolerant, more loving, and more charitable — both to those I know and those I have yet to meet. What will your commitment be?

As the year comes to a close, I feel especially grateful for our incredible staff. Their kindness and compassion toward our guests and one another never cease to amaze me. They make Bread & Life a truly special place, reminding me daily of the power each of us holds to make a difference in someone’s life. They have taught me that presence is a greater gift than presents, that a kind word achieves more than confrontation, and that the greatest purpose we can strive for is to spread love throughout the world.

As we enter 2025, many of us feel anxious about what lies ahead. My hope is that we continue to put our faith into action and move forward together. By doing so, we can remain a light in the darkness for one another.

Blessings to each of you. May 2025 be a year filled with hope, joy, and good things for us all.



With gratitude for what has been, what is, and what is yet to come.

Sr. Caroline Tweedy, RSM

Executive Director

Join us in making Christmas bright for all!

The Sponsor A Family Holiday Program fundraiser brings more than just food and gifts to families in need—it delivers hope, dignity, and a sense of joy during a season that can otherwise feel uncertain or overwhelming. For families facing food insecurity, this program means a holiday table filled with nourishing meals to share and the joy of knowing their children will receive thoughtful gifts. It eases the burden of making difficult choices between essentials and allows them to experience the warmth and generosity of their community. Through this program, families are reminded that they are not alone and that kindness and support can make the holidays a time of comfort and celebration.

We’re thrilled to share that we’ve reached 90% of our goal for the Sponsor A Family holiday program! Thanks to your generosity, we’re making the holidays brighter for families facing food insecurity. 



On behalf of everyone at St. John’s Bread & Life we would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Crystal Rosas and our friends at iHeartRadio and Food Bazaar for their incredible support of our programs through the inaugural Crystal’s Community Meals fundraiser. By lending her voice to our mission, Crystal and team helped to raise awareness and $13,388 for our Sponsor A Family Holiday Program, helping to make the holidays brighter for those who need it most!

We would like to thank the A Slice of Hope Foundation and a generous anonymous donor for each matching the first $5,000 donated to our Giving Tuesday campaign, which directly benefitted our Sponsor A Family Holiday Program.

Because of this generous match, our Giving Tuesday supporters saw the impact of their gifts tripled, helping us provide even more joy to families in need this holiday season!



We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Amazing Mets Foundation and Steven & Alexandra Cohen for their incredible generosity in supporting St. John’s Bread & Life’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. Through their gift of turkeys and essential funding, they have helped us provide warm, nourishing, and joyful meals to those in need. That's 9,000 meals through our Giveaway and 1,500 hot meals between our soup kitchen and MSK (Mobile Soup Kitchen) with a grand total of 10,500 meals! Their kindness and compassion uplift our community and ensure that everyone can share in the spirit of gratitude and togetherness this holiday season.

We thank the Amazing Mets Foundation for making this Thanksgiving truly special for so many.



We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ridgewood Savings Bank and The Martino Family for their incredible dedication and support during our Thanksgiving meal distribution at Bread & Life. Your time, energy, and generosity helped ensure that hundreds of families in our community could enjoy a warm and nourishing holiday meal. Your efforts embody the true spirit of the season—giving back and making a difference in the lives of those who need it most. Thank you for standing with us in our mission to fight hunger and spread hope. Together, we are building a stronger, more compassionate community!



Ridgewood Savings Bank

The Martino Family

St. John's Bread & Life Staff and volunteers

We are honored to share that St. John’s Bread & Life has been awarded the 2024 City Harvest Advocacy Award in recognition of our outstanding advocacy efforts within the community. This esteemed acknowledgment reflects our team's unwavering commitment to amplifying our collective voice and championing city, state, and federal policies that uplift and support New Yorkers in need. (Pictured above are Francisco, Henry and Jermont, valued members of our inventory department)

As the year comes to a close, remember that charitable gifts by check are eligible for a 2024 tax deduction if the checks are dated and postmarked by December 31. Online gifts made by 11:59 PM on December 31 will qualify for charitable tax deductions for the 2024 calendar year.

Your year-end support is vital to sustaining our mission into the new year. Thank you for your kindness and commitment to making a difference.

We are grateful for the heartfelt tribute gifts made in honor or memory of loved ones. These meaningful contributions not only celebrate their lives but also support our mission to serve those in need.

Recent Tributes:

• Donald Bradley
• Joseph Jelonek
• Tony Morales



• Margaret Helen Smith
• Sr. Julia Upton, RSM

For volunteering, contact:

Renelle Merstil at rmerstil@breadandlife.org