Thursday, October 1, 2026
Summer brings an excitement for both community members and visitors to Long Beach. But when beaches begin filling up in June and temperatures rise, so does the need at the Long Beach Soup Kitchen.
As part of National Hunger Awareness Month, observed annually in June, the soup kitchen is asking the community for donations to help meet that increased need.
National Hunger Awareness Month encourages people to donate while raising awareness about food insecurity. Hunger affects more than 800 million people worldwide, according to the World Food Program USA.
Direct drop-offs can be made at the Long Beach Soup Kitchen, 140 West Pine St., in Long Beach, from 9 to 11 a.m., Monday through Saturday.
Donation boxes can also be found in the lobby of the Long Beach Public Library, 111 W. Park Ave., during library hours. Students at Long Beach High School are also encouraged to participate.
Betsy Glazer, who serves on the board of directors for the Long Beach Soup Kitchen, said 90 percent of patrons who utilize the organization’s services are from Long Beach. Others walk across the Long Beach Bridge from Island Park and Oceanside for meals and pantry items.
The soup kitchen serves more than 80 lunches daily, ranging from cold sandwiches to pasta and soup. From June to August last year, it served more than 6,000 meals, which Glazer said reflects the increased demand during warmer months.
“Our numbers were down in the winter due to the extreme cold we had,” Glazer said, noting sub-30-degree temperatures earlier this year. “Now, with more people visiting Long Beach and the kids being off from school, our numbers go up. It’s not a surprise.”
The soup kitchen also operates a food pantry, where patrons can receive nonperishable items such as juice boxes, bottled water, canned chicken and tuna. Glazer said the food drive will help keep pantry shelves stocked while providing flexibility in meal service.
In addition to both the library and Long Beach High School, the soup kitchen is receiving assistance from community organizations such as Lancer Insurance, which has partnered with the organization since 2023.
Tina Morrison, an administrative assistant at Lancer and a member of Lancer’s events committee said committee members always get feedback from fellow employees on the impact.
“We’ve always been proud to support the Long Beach Soup Kitchen through fundraising efforts,” Morrison said, noting Lancer has more than 100 staff members. “It’s something that the committee and the employees always look forward to, and we believe it’s just a great way to support families in Long Beach.”
Glazer also thanked contributors, including Liz Nachman’s Beach Giving NY for their continued support.
“We go through so much food in our pantry, making it extremely valuable to ask the community to give,” Glazer said. “The food drive will really help our pantry.”
Those needing assistance bringing nonperishable donations to the soup kitchen should contact Maureen Doherty at (516) 451-1071.
