Independence from Hunger: Stand With Your Neighbors This July 4th
Every July, our community comes together to celebrate independence — backyard barbecues, fireworks over the country tables full of food shared with the people we love.
But for many of our neighbors right here in Wyandanch and across Long Island, that picture looks different. Independence is hard to feel when you're not sure where your next meal is coming from. Hunger has a way of crowding out everything else — the job search, the kids' summer plans, the simple peace of mind most of us take for granted.
That's why, from now through July 4th, Mercy Soup Kitchen is running our Independence from Hunger donation drive — and we're asking you to be part of it.
What Independence Looks Like at 17 South 20th Street
Since 1980, when Sister Mary Agunta Boyle first opened our doors, Mercy Soup Kitchen has served our neighbors on one simple promise: no questions asked. No ID. No paperwork. No proving you "deserve" a meal. Just a hot lunch, a warm welcome, and the dignity every person is owed.
Today, that promise feeds over 135 neighbors every weekday — more than 25,000 meals a year. Our guests are elderly residents stretching a fixed income, working parents whose paychecks don't quite reach the end of the month, and people experiencing homelessness who know they'll find a seat at our table, Monday through Friday, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Alongside every hot lunch, guests take home a bagged meal — a sandwich, fresh fruit, and snacks — so the support doesn't end when lunch does.
And it's all powered by neighbors helping neighbors: retired teachers, police officers, and working residents who volunteer their time because this is their community too.
Why We're Asking for Monetary Donations
Food drives are wonderful, and our partners at Long Island Cares, Island Harvest, Chick-fil-A, and KFC help keep our pantry stocked. But here's the truth about summer: it's the hardest season for hunger relief.
School meal programs pause, which means more families at our door. Donations slow down, even as the need rises. And monetary gifts give us something canned goods can't — flexibility. A dollar donated lets us buy exactly what's needed, when it's needed: fresh produce, proteins, milk, and the take-home items that get a family through the weekend.
Here's what your gift can do:
Every dollar goes straight to the table:
$5 serves one neighbor a hot meal
$25 feeds a neighbor lunch for a whole week
$100 sends 20 neighbors home with a bagged meal - a sandwich, fresh fruit, and a little extra for the evening
$600 keeps the entire kitchen open for one full day - consider sponsoring a day in honor of someone you love
Give Your Neighbors Independence from Hunger
This Fourth of July, as you gather around your own table, we're asking you to set a place at ours.
Donate today by clicking HERE
or mail your gift to: Mercy Soup Kitchen 17 South 20th Street Wyandanch, NY 11798
The drive runs now through July 4th. Every gift, of every size, goes directly toward feeding our neighbors with the dignity and respect they deserve — the same way we've done it for over 45 years.