Through the Fire, We Keep Serving
A fire damaged our home at Trinity Lutheran Church this weekend. No one was hurt, and our volunteers are already back out serving. Here is what happened, and our thanks to all of you.
Dear friends and neighbors,
On Sunday, October 18, a fire broke out at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wyandanch, the home of Mercy Soup Kitchen for more than 40 years. The fire started near an exterior door and spread into the building, damaging our kitchen and the church offices.
First, the news that matters most: no one was hurt. Buildings can be repaired and pots can be replaced. The people who walk through our doors, and the people who serve them, cannot. We are deeply grateful that everyone is safe.
Where things stand
Our kitchen is closed while professionals assess the damage and plan repairs. The power is off for now, and we do not yet have a date to reopen. We will share updates as soon as we know more.
We are still serving
About 150 neighbors count on us for a meal every day. That has not changed, and neither has our commitment. While the kitchen is closed, our volunteers are handing out sandwiches so that no one goes without.
As our president, Vito Colletti, put it: "There's just such a tremendous job ahead of us." It is a big job. But this community has never backed away from one, and we are not about to start.
Thank you
To our volunteers. You showed up. You made sandwiches, handed out meals and kept serving when the stoves went cold. You are the heart of this kitchen, with or without a stove.
To our community. Your calls, messages, prayers and gifts have carried us this week. Some of our volunteers once came to us for a meal. Today they serve beside us. That is who Wyandanch is.
To Pastor David Anglada and Trinity Lutheran Church. Thank you for opening your doors to this ministry for four decades, and for walking through this with us.
To the press. Thank you to News 12 Long Island, ABC7, NBC 4 New York, CBS New York and every outlet that shared our story. Because you told it, help has reached us from across Long Island and beyond.
How you can help right now
Support our GoFundMe. We’ve launched a GoFundMe to help us rebuild the kitchen and get hot meals back on the table. Every dollar goes straight to repairs and restocking. GOFUNDME LINK
Give online. Monetary gifts are what we need most right now, to restock and to rebuild. Donate on our Giving Page.
Hold the food and clothing for now. With the building damaged, we have nowhere safe to store donated goods. We will let you know as soon as we can accept them again.
Share this post. Every share helps another neighbor learn how to help.
We will continue to serve this community as long as the need exists. A fire does not change that.
With gratitude,
The volunteers and board of Mercy Soup Kitchen of Wyandanch