How It All Began
Founded in 1989 by Jimmy & Phyllis Rotonno serving approximately 40-60 sandwich bags to the homeless per day .
Before Jimmy founded this soup kitchen he had a religious experience when dealing with a local homeless man where God told him to feed his people. Soon after Jimmy bought the land that would become Our Fathers House Soup Kitchen in Pompano Beach Florida.
Jimmy and his wife worked tirelessly to collect donations and feed the hungry and needy people who would come everyday. He experienced hardships and nearly had to close the doors for good on several occasions.
Through thick and thin Jimmys soup kitchen remained open thanks to the generous help of volunteers and philanthropic people and business. The poorest of South Florida continued to receive regular meals along with other types of donated goods such as clothes, bikes, and more.
Our Fathers House Soup Kitchen Inc
Address
Food For The Homeless And Needy. We are a soup kitchen only providing hot meals M-F from 11:30am to 12:55pm.Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen, Inc, a charitable tax-exempt, 501 organization located in Pompano Beach, FL is dedicated to feeding the homeless and needy without discrimination. The primary mission is to provide hot lunches Monday through Friday in a peaceful and sheltered Christian environment and to provide other emergency food pantry items and clothing assistance on an as-needed basis. The overall goal is to provide nutrition and hope to give guests a hand up rather than a hand out.
Where Do Soup Kitchens Get Their Food
Soup kitchens run on the generosity of people in the community. They rely mostly on donations from individuals and institutions who believe in their cause.
At Our Fathers House Soup Kitchen, for example, donors have the option to donate cash or food items. Non-perishable items like bottled water, cereals, bread, coffee, milk, and canned goods are especially needed. But you can also donate used clothes and hygiene items as these are very much useful for the homeless too.
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Where We Are Today
Our Fathers House Soup Kitchen AKA Our Fathers House Family Services has grown to a full service Ministry under the care of Katie Crissy as CEO & Program Director.
A hot four course meal, plus a bag meal to go is served to 160-200 of the less fortunate daily, every week of the year.
The kitchen has a dining room, a clothing boutique . It also offers personal hygiene products and recycled bike transportation to the less fortunate along with a volunteer barber. On any given month 200-300 pairs of sneakers/shoes are provided.
With the help of our many dedicated volunteers and staff our kitchen is a happy place for the forgotten ones to come, eat, and enjoy themselves for an hour or so a day.
You can donate to our soup kitchen online through our website. Visit our donations page to learn about all the ways you can support the poor and needy of South Florida.
501 not for profit based in Pompano Beach, Florida USA
How Do Soup Kitchens Help The Community
Throughout history and in most cultures, the sharing of food to the less fortunate is a common practice. Society has always felt a moral obligation to help its most vulnerable members.
This is how soup kitchens help the community. They provide a venue for those with resources to share their blessings with people who are in dire need of them.
Not only does it encourage charity, but it also brings the community together. It helps break societal boundaries as rich and poor, young and old gather together to share a meal. More importantly, it teaches young children the importance of empathy.
With more than 38 million people experiencing hunger in the US, about 12 to 21 million people rely on soup kitchens. This puts soup kitchens at the forefront in the fight against hunger and illustrates their importance, especially in low-income communities.
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Make Your Tax Deductible Gift Now & Help The Homeless Of South Florida
Food is the most basic human need. Yet, not everyone is fortunate enough to have something to eat whenever theyre hungry.
This is a struggle that a lot of our brothers and sisters have to go through every single day. The uncertainty of where to get the next meal or if they will be able to have one. Some even had to go for days without eating or having roofs over their heads. Its basically a fight to survive.
What most people dont realize is that a lot among us are just one paycheck away from being homeless. In fact, more than half a million people are experiencing homelessness every single night. These people lost everything their homes, their jobs, their cars and even their dignity. Living in the streets, they are exposed to the elements and sometimes become victims of crimes.
Thats why a simple hot meal once or twice a day can go a long way with helping them survive this ordeal. Thats what we are hoping to achieve here in Our Fathers House Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.
We are dedicated in serving Gods precious poor and homeless by providing hot lunches from Monday through Friday in a secured and Christian environment free from judgement and discriminations. We also provide food pantry items and clothing assistance in emergency situations. Our overall goal is to provide nutrition and give our guests a hand up instead of a handout.
Develop A Food Service Plan
Because it serves food to people, a soup kitchen has to comply with food sanitation regulations too. This is why you need to develop a food service plan before starting your operations.
Your food service plan should include details like:
- the number of people you plan to serve daily
- food safety protocols
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What Does A Soup Kitchen Do
A familiar feeling among homeless people is hopelessness. And we cannot blame them. When you have lost everything , its inevitable to feel such desperation. Every single day, they have to keep fighting to survive. And every single day, they sink deeper into the quagmire of self-pity and desolation.
Soup kitchens have become a place of refuge for those less fortunate souls. It gives them hope that all is not lost and there are still people who care for them. In these havens, they are not judged, discriminated against, or made to feel like theyre worthless. Instead, they are cared for and treated as equals.
Aside from free food, most soup kitchens also provide other necessities such as clothing and hygiene kits. Though some soup kitchens only serve soup and bread, others serve a freshly-cooked full course meal. They also provide a take-out bag with a sandwich and other goodies.
The most important thing a soup kitchen does, however, is providing the homeless with a sense of belonging. For someone who doesnt have a place of their own, this is a big deal, particularly during special occasions.
Why Is A Soup Kitchen Called A Soup Kitchen
Since ancient times, charitable organizations have been serving soup to the poor and hungry. Aside from being economical, a hot soup can also be very filling making it the ultimate food choice for relief organizations with limited resources. Then during the Great Depression, these types of food assistance places became more prominent in the US. People would line up in these places to get their daily ration of soup and bread. And thats how the term soup kitchen came about.
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How To Start A Soup Kitchen And Help The Homeless
Starting a soup kitchen is not a walk in the park. It entails sacrifices and commitment. So if youre planning to open your very own soup kitchen, know that youre in for a rough journey ahead.
Dont get me wrong though. Starting and running a soup kitchen is definitely a challenge. But its also one of the most rewarding undertakings one can do. Besides, if we are to look at the numbers, the world needs soup kitchens now more than ever.
According to theUnited Nations, as many as 811 million people around the world faced hunger in 2020 the highest in more than a decade. Of these, about12 to 21 million rely on soup kitchens and food pantries. This underscores how important soup kitchens are, especially for people who have nowhere to go.
If youre really determined to go down this road, heres a quick guide on how to start a soup kitchen.
Food Pantry Vs Soup Kitchen
Before embarking on your soup kitchen journey, know that soup kitchens are different from food pantries.
As mentioned above, soup kitchens serve hot meals. A food pantry, on the other hand, is more like a distribution center. It gives out food supplies that are meant to last for a certain period of time.
In short, soup kitchens serve ready-to-eat meals while food pantries give out uncooked food items. This is because soup kitchens mostly cater to the homeless and those who have nowhere to cook their food. Food pantries, however, serve individuals and families who cant afford to buy their own food.
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Our Work For The Poor And Needy
We also continue to do our best to meet their clothing needs as well.Most especially, we strive to lessen their hardships by serving them with all the love God has put into our hearts. As Mother Theresa said, Its not how much we do, but how much love we put into the doing.
None of this can be accomplished, however, without cash donations and the need now is especially critical. Please consider donating to our cause.
Follow us on social media for important updates!
Define The Scope Of Your Mission
No matter how much you want to provide all of the homeless needs, its just not feasible. This is why you need to define the scope of your mission.
What area are you serving? Will you just serve hot meals or will you also provide clothing and hygiene items? Let these questions serve as your guide when planning the extent of your services.
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Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen
$3,510 raised Pompano Beach, FL
Our fathers house soup kitchen, inc, a charitable tax-exempt, 501 organization located in pompano beach, fl is dedicated to feeding the homeless and needy without discrimination. the primary mission is to provide hot lunches monday through friday in a peaceful and sheltered environment and to provide other emergency food pantry items and clothing assistance on an as-needed basis. the ove… Read more
The Difference Between Soup Kitchens And Food Pantries
Though both give out food to the homeless, soup kitchens and food pantries differ in their methods.
Food pantries give out pre-packaged food items that the recipient can eat and cook at home. This is convenient for people who live far away from these institutions. They can receive up to a weeks worth of food without having to visit the food pantries frequently.
Soup kitchens, on the other hand, give out freshly-cooked meals which can be eaten on their premises. Unlike food pantries, soup kitchens serve food to anyone who turns up with no questions asked. This is why its an ideal setup for providing food to the homeless and those with long-term dependence on food assistance. They are able to enjoy a hot meal in an environment free of discrimination and prejudice.
One free hot meal each day may not matter much to you but it could be a lifeline for others. Join us in helping the homeless. Donate or volunteer at soup kitchens near you. Together, we can change the world with one small act of kindness at a time.
Donate To The Poor & Homeless Of South Florida Online
Our Fathers House Soup Kitchen has fed the poor and homeless in South Florida over 900,000 hot meals since 1993. Our 501 non profit organization also collects and distributes donations such as clothing, toiletries, shoes, bicycles, and more. You can donate to help the poor and homeless through our website.
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Organizations Like Our Fathers House Soup Kitchen
| Organization |
|---|
- Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions
- Yes
- P85: Homeless Persons Centers and Services
- NAICS code, primary
- 813410: Civic and Social Organizations
- Parent/child status
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