What’s New

Why Become A Volunteer

We asked our volunteers why they volunteer with Welcome Friends and what does Welcome
Friends mean to them, here are their responses:
Why do you volunteer with Welcome Friends?
Giving Back.
It’s an opportunity.
Trying to be helpful.
To assist the needy.
To be of service to those that are in need.
Sharing in the work, grateful to feed the food insecured.
Helping those who need a hand.
Community service, great people.
I give my time, but I get far more in return.
It is a way for me to take active time to think about others less fortunate than me.
Chance to give back.
Helping those less fortunate is a very humbling & rewarding experience.
No person should go hungry
Nobody should go hungry.
People should not go hungry.

What does Welcome Friends mean to you?
A chance to help a great operation.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
A place without judgment
An opportunity to give back to the community.
Friendship, laughter, caring, fun
Community, Teamwork, laughter, sharing
Friends, teamwork, service, fun
Wonderful people feeding wonderful people.

Our Guests are Grateful

Scannable Document on Jun 17, 2022 at 11_11_28 AM

A Note From One of Our Guests

Wednesday Kitchen is AWESOME

Mexican ground beef casserole w/rice, Mexican corn salad, black bean soup was expertly prepared by our dedicated staff.

Our staff prepared New Year’s meals of Tuna Mornay, salad, banana, cookies, pistachios, ginger ale and chicken salad sandwiches. A wonderful way to start the New Year. Thank you to all our volunteer staff.

Holiday Party December 2021

Our crew plating our take-out holiday dinner

Lori and Ed displaying our meal (Roast Beef with mushroom gravy, baked potato with horseradish sour cream, roasted asparagus, and glazed carrots). We also served a salad and apple crisp for dessert.

Thanksgiving 2021

Thank You Suffolk Federal Credit Union

Suffolk Federal Credit Union Donates $1,000 to Welcome Friends Soup Kitchen of Port Jefferson

On Friday, September 24, 2021 the Welcome Friends Soup Kitchen of Port Jefferson accepted a generous donation of $1,000 from the Suffolk Federal Credit Union at First Presbyterian Church in Port Jefferson. This donation will assist Welcome Friends to purchase, prepare and distribute much needed meals for neighbors in need. The mission of Welcome Friends is to provide nutritious meals to the hungry in the greater Port Jefferson area. When Covid‐19 shut down the church facilities where meals were cooked, Welcome Friends volunteers remained committed and secured meals from local restaurants, both by donation and purchasing prepared meals. Through their efforts, Welcome Friends continues to provide “meals to go” five times a week.

Pictured above from left to right are Micah Schlendorf (SFCC), Lorraine Kutzing (WF), Susan Davis (WF), Michael Botty and Branch Manager Lillian Iorio of Suffolk Federal.

Friday Night Thank You

Our Friday night kitchen was interviewed this Friday by Hometown Hope of Port Jefferson. The East Main & Main Donut Shop donated delicious donuts to our volunteers to thank us for what we do. (Raise the volume so you can hear the interview.) Click here to see video

Student Project Results in Large Donation to Welcome Friends

On February 17, 2021, Ward Melville High School students delivered over 1,200 hygiene

supplies to the Welcome Friends Soup Kitchen of Greater Port Jefferson. The volunteer

project, titled Mission: Toothbrush, led by Mikaeel Zohair involved several donation drives

held within the Three Village School District over the past year. The goal of Mission:

Toothbrush is to promote the importance of dental hygiene by providing people who lack

the ability to obtain dental and other hygiene products with the necessary supplies. Items

such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, shaving cream and diapers will

go directly to people in need in our area. Supporting Mikaeel were students Claire Yang,

Riya Sangwan, Neil Mehta and Jean Chung.

After researching local organizations, Mikaeel contacted the Welcome Friends volunteer

coordinator to determine whether they would be interested in receiving the donations. One

of the kitchen coordinators responded to Mikaeel’s offer and a meeting was arranged to

receive the boxes of supplies. Mikaeel said that he loved the Welcome Friends mission – to

provide hot, nutritious meals five days a week to those in need in the greater Port Jefferson

area. Our coordinator was also very impressed stating, “These students are aware of how

many individuals don’t have access to these types of products and are willing to give their

time and effort to organize various drives at their school and in the community. These

actions are making a difference in the lives of people less fortunate and the students are an

inspiration to us all!”

Pictured from left to right, students Mikaeel Zohair, Claire Yang, Riya Sangwan, Neil Mehta

and Jean Chung.

Thank you First Presbyterian's

We’re happy to report that First Presbyterian’s Board has approved the use of their kitchen on Wednesday mornings to cook the meal for distribution at St Paul’s Church at 1:00 on on Wednesdays. It’s such a pleasure to work with a Pastor and Board that “gets” our mission and is willing to continue to work with us during this difficult time!

Wednesday's Soup KItchen

Every Wednesday our cooks are busy preparing delicious, appetizing meals to distribute. This past week oven-baked chicken with a tangy glaze was prepared over cranberry, onion and apple rice pilaf. Oven-roasted corn & green peppers accompanied the meal alongside a mixed salad of green beans, tomatoes & feta cheese. Chilled peaches provided a cool dessert to end the meal.

Welcome to our two new volunteers : Joanne and Sheila.

Thanksgiving In July

Our cooks are busy every week creating delicious, nutritious meals to distribute outdoors as grab & go. All CDC and county health requirements are stringently followed. Recently they prepared a Thanksgiving in July meal, complete with roast turkey, stuffing, and side dishes.

Below are photos of one of their latest creations: baked sticky chicken glazed with dijon strawberry jam and spices; rice pilaf with walnuts, cranberries, and fresh apples; corn.

Working together every Wednesday, our dedicated and talented volunteers, Diane, Nicole and Lou, pictured below, prepare healthy, appetizing meals to distribute to our neighbors in need.

Welcome Friends at Work

Our cooks creativity and use of various herbs and spices is apparent in these photos —Turkey & Sausage Meatloaf smothered in a special sauce, Mashed Potatoes accompanied by sautéed fresh veggies – spinach, mushrooms & red onions.