By:Cindy J. Roth
Volunteers can no longer feed the homeless at soup kitchen
The Angels of St. Marks Evangelist Church in North Bellmore offered lunch Tuesdays at The Long Beach Food and Friendship Inn soup kitchen for 14 years. Because of city regulations, nutrition standards and changes in donation policies from local vendors, the Angels served their final meal last week.
"Because things have changed, we've all decided to retire," said Camille Gaynor, 60, Angels' captain. "[I have] very mixed emotions because the Angels are all good friends, but so many signs say that it's time to retire."
The Interfaith Nutrition Network is the primary factor halting the Angels' work. The Network is enforcing a requirement that all hot foods be kept at 140 degrees for health and nutrition reasons, specifically to prevent contamination from pesticides. Although the Angels cook the food at a temperature above the minimum standard in Bellmore, about 220 degrees, by the time the food is driven to Long Beach, about 20 minutes, the food's temperature dips below the serving standard.
Julie O'Neill, soup-kitchen director, said the City of Long Beach does not allow the soup kitchen to cook on premises, restricting Angels from preparing and serving their traditional meal of chicken, rice, pastas and vegetables on site.
"I will miss the chicken on Tuesdays because I love chicken on Tuesdays," said Cynthia Beatty, 39, who has eaten at the soup kitchen on and off for about two years.
Beatty said that, on other days, groups that serve at the soup kitchen throw all types of food together, like ravioli and peas. But "Tuesdays are a decent meal," she said.
Many of the "friends," as Gaynor calls them, who eat at the soup kitchen have only high praise for the Angels. Mike Brady, 47, who has come to the Inn for four years, described the Angels as nice people, and said it's a shame they will no longer serve food.
The 15 Angels served about 45-55 people a week, but those numbers recently declined. Some people who frequent the soup kitchen are homeless, others are down on their luck, want companionship, and sometimes people just do not have enough money for food after paying bills. Gaynor said the Angels never asked questions of the people who walked through the door; they served everyone.
Bellmore vendors donated most food served by the Angels. Zorn's provided the chicken, pastas and rice; Dunkin Donuts gave pastries; Thrifty Beverage donated a gallon of milk a week; and Grand Union before it was taken over by Stop and Shop pitched in fruits, vegetables and day-old breads. Gaynor said Stop and Shop has different donation policies and does not give to the Angels. The supermarket's manager Mike Demmett said the Angels are allowed to pick up day-old breads and vegetables; the store just does not donate old meats.
The menu for the Angels' farewell party included bread, potato chips, chicken soup, six three-foot heroes, potato salad, cupcakes, juice and coffee. The "friends" also received a bag of food to take home with them. It included a five-pound bag of potatoes, three pounds of bananas, one pound of carrots, cantaloupe, dozen eggs and loaf of bread.
Many Angels said they found their volunteer work rewarding. The group's close-knit nature also added to their satisfaction.
"Everyone loves each other and respects each other," said 10-year Angel veteran Magda Squillacioti. "I've never been in a group of people like this. Their arms go around you like family."
Gaynor and most of the Angels plan to take the summer off from volunteering, but many said they are sure a new outreach program will begin soon.
