Table of Plenty

There are many volunteer opportunities out there for those who wish to serve the hungry. If you’re just getting started as a volunteer, it’s good to begin at the parish level: Let your pastor or other community members who are involved know you’d like to lend a hand, and check the weekly bulletin for contact information. Your parish may host a program of its own, partner with another community organization or refer volunteers to local programs.

The list below highlights notable Catholic parish-based pantries and soup kitchens in the 10 counties of the archdiocese. Use it as a resource list – and if you see an organization that you’d like to support, get in touch with them to find out what they need. (Also, if your parish has a program that you think belongs on the list, let us know.

If your parish is not involved in a program like these, your next step is to check out the website of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York , which operates regional food banks. In addition, at catholiccharitiesnyvolunteer.org, you’ll find a list of agencies and programs that have put out calls for volunteers; and if you go to catholiccharitiesny.org/find-help, you can search for programs that serve particular needs in particular areas.