CHOW oversees over 60 soup kitchens and food pantries. To eliminate food insecurity from Broome County, CHOW would have to provide the county with 7.8 million pounds of food for the year. Currently CHOW turns out 3.1 million pounds of food a year, with a 4.7 million pound shortage.
What is a soup kitchen? CHOW’s soup kitchens provide Broome County with 833,333 meals a year. Soup kitchens are places where anyone can go and receive a free nutritious meal to help alleviate hunger for those who are incapable of providing regular meals for themselves and/or their families. Both soup kitchens and pantries are highly effective because they are often a person’s last resource for food.
Why does a soup kitchen need volunteers? Soup Kitchens need volunteers to help cook the food, serve it, prepare the room where people will eat and help clean up after them at the end of the meal.
What should I bring with me when I volunteer? Be sure to wear comfortable, closed toe shoes. Anyone with long hair must bring hair ties and a hat, or they will have to wear a hair net. (This is strictly for health code purposes.) Wear comfortable and casual clothes, but don’t wear anything too baggy that might be a hindrance while cooking or helping set up / clean the soup kitchen. Make sure you bring any medications that you might need. A photo ID might be required the first time one goes to a kitchen to volunteer.
Which soup kitchens need extra volunteers?
Endwell United Methodist Church located at 3301 Watson Boulevard, Endwell (needs volunteers on Mondays from 5:00PM-6:00PM) call 607-754-5735 if you’d like to serve
First United Methodist Church located at 53 McKinley Avenue, Endicott (needs volunteers for lunch Monday through Friday from 9:00AM-1:00PM; for lunch on Saturdays from 12:00PM-1:00PM; for dinner on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 5:30PM-6:30PM; for breakfast on Sundays from 8:15AM-9:15AM) call 607-748-7434 and ask to speak to Jan
The Salvation Army located at 127-131 Washington Street, Binghamton (needs volunteers for breakfast Monday through Friday from 9:30AM-10:15AM; for dinner Thursday through Monday from 5:00PM-5:45PM) call 607-722-3059
Chenango Bridge United Methodist Church located at 740 River Road Chenango Bridge, NY (needs volunteers the last Saturday of the month from 12:00PM-1:00PM) call 607-648-4339 and ask to speak Hudda
Centenary United Methodist Church located at 438 Chenango Street Binghamton, NY (needs volunteers for dinner on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 4:30PM-6:00PM)
First Presbyterian Church located at 29 Grant Avenue Endicott, NY (needs volunteers for dinner on Tuesdays from 5:30PM-7:00PM) call 607-748-1544 and ask to speak to Analise
All Saints Church located at 475 Main Street Johnson City, NY (needs volunteers for lunch on Saturdays at noon) call 797-3354 and ask to speak with Debbie
First United Methodist Church located at 109 Second Street Deposit, NY (needs volunteers for dinner on the second and fourth Wednesdays from 4:30PM-6:00PM) call 607-467-2290
Central United Methodist Church located at 17 Nanticoke Avenue Endicott, NY (needs volunteers for dinner on Thursdays at 5:00PM) call 607-754-6060
United Presbyterian Church located at 42 Chenango Street Binghamton, NY (needs volunteers for dinner on Tuesdays from 5:00-6:00PM) call 607-722-4219 **additionally requested volunteers for help with their data entry**
Our Lady of Good Counsel located at 701 Main Street Endicott, NY (needs volunteers for dinner on Fridays at 5:30PM) call 607-748-7417 ** volunteers must be Virtus certified; this is a free course than can be completed online or at the church**
What is a food pantry? A food pantry is a room in a local Church or Temple that distributes 3 meals for a 5 day span for every single person who resides in a house in need. CHOW’s pantries put an additional 10,000 meals back into the community every week. If a person is in danger of not having enough food for the month they can call First Call for Help (2-1-1), which pairs them with a local church’s pantry that can supply them with these emergency meals.
What should I bring with me when I volunteer? Dress in comfortable casual clothes and wear closed toe shoes. Please bring any necessary personal affects (i.e. medicine). Bring a photo ID with you the first time you volunteer at a pantry.
Which pantries need help? Thankfully many citizens of Broome County already volunteer their time and efforts to ensure that the hungry are fed in our community. If you would like to volunteer in a pantry here is a list of local pantries that need volunteers:
Centenary Chenango Street United Methodist Church located at 438 Chenango Street Binghamton, NY (needs volunteers on Thursdays from 5:00-6:00) call 607-724-3546 and ask to speak with Linda
First Congregational Church located at 30 Main Street Binghamton, NY (needs volunteers the last two Mondays of the month from 9:30AM-11:00AM) call 607-723-8981 and ask to speak with Karen
New Life Ministries located at 201 Hill Avenue Endicott, NY (needs extra volunteers on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:30PM-6:00PM) call 607-785-8579
Temple Concord located at 9 Riverside Drive Binghamton, NY (needs extra volunteers on Thursdays from 5:30PM to 7:00PM) call 607-723-7355
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church located at 200 Jefferson Avenue Endicott, NY (needs extra volunteers on Tuesdays from 1:15-2:45 and Thursdays from 3:45-5:45) call 607-748-8118
If you would like to volunteer for a soup kitchen or a pantry please fill out the form below and fax it to (607) 724-9148. Every volunteer opportunity is different, some can be set up as a onetime occurrence, other locations may ask that you join a “team” that agrees to meet certain weeks, or you can volunteer regularly. If you do agree to volunteer at a certain location you must show up. If you are unable to make your volunteer shift then you must alert the head of the pantry or soup kitchen at least 24 hours in advance.