Posted on July 28, 2015 Last weekend we were excited to honor our amazing Grand Central Food Program volunteers with a “Thank You Picnic” in Central Park. Everyone had a great time swapping stories and sharing food – which is really what they do best. Our amazing GCFP volunteers hand out roughly 1,000 meals to hungry and homeless New Yorkers at two dozen stops around New York City, every single night, 365 days a year. The Coalition’s Grand Central Food Program was founded in 1985 the day after a homeless woman died of starvation in Grand Central Terminal. In its 30 year history, the program has distributed more than five million meals and has never missed a single night of operation. Our more than 150 volunteers – most whom commit to coming out one evening per week – are the backbone of the program, driving the vans, handing out the meals, distributing clothing, blankets and other supplies, and bringing a smiling face and a bit of hope to those who need it most. After a beautiful afternoon of animated conversation, dumb jokes and great company in the park, the Saturday evening volunteers packed up the GCFP van and headed to St. Bartholomew’s Church (the first distribution site) to start another night of deliveries. Every night the Grand Central Food Program brings homeless men, women and children what is often their only meal of the day, and it is the tireless devotion of our amazing volunteers that makes the program such a success. We cannot begin to thank them enough! Program Director Juan de la Cruz (center) with some of our GCFP volunteers Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Grand Central Food Program. Learn more about how you can help us distribute life-saving food services to homeless men, women and children in New York City.
