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

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

Pictured from left to right, students Mikaeel Zohair, Claire Yang, Riya Sangwan, Neil Mehta
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
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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.
With the help of a couple of our volunteers, Jim and Betty, pictured below, completed meals are assembled and packed for delivery to St. Paul’s.
