Welcome Inn
Welcome INN is an interfaith group of volunteers serving meals to low-income people across Long Island. Several churches in our area host a weekly dinner. We are responsible for the Friday-evening meals. The umbrella agency is the Interfaith Nutrition Network (hence, INN), located in Hempstead. Welcome INN is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, volunteer-based organization that tries to address the problem of hunger in the local area by providing meals in a safe, clean, caring environment with no questions asked.
Our church has served meals as part of Welcome INN for several years. Most of those partaking of a meal are from the Port Jefferson area. Usually 35 to 45 people attend a Friday dinner at our church. Occasionally, as many as 60 people attend, so meals are planned for 60, and the extra plates are served for take-out to family members at home and those unable to attend at church. Of those who attend, a few are homeless, and a few live on a short-term basis in the area. Some have homes and some have income. A few senior citizens attend who live on Social Security and have difficulty with cooking on their own. Others are families having difficulties with the cost of food. In other words, there is a cross-section of people seeking a hot meal.
Some volunteers have been sought directly through Welcome INN and have provided our church with the coordination of meals and great cooks. These volunteers arrive each Friday at approximately 4:00 p.m. to prepare the meal. Members of the church as well as local volunteers assist with preparation and serving. The volunteer staff is experienced and a wonderful group to work with.
Our church mainly provides the cleanup crews each week, and the hours are 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. We have many volunteers who have been with Welcome INN from the beginning, but volunteers sometimes have to resign owing to many different circumstances, and we need to replace them. If you are interested in volunteering one night a month (just a little more than an hour of your time once a month—and a delicious meal!) or would be willing to be called as a substitute, please contact a deacon.*
Thanks very much!!
Main and South Streets, Port Jefferson NY 11777 office: (631) 473-0147
Email: Pastor@PJPres.org Office@PJPres.org Webmaster@PJPres.org