Stock the Shelves or Make Some Soup

For more than 30 years, has met the needs of the poor and homeless in the Middletown area. Today, the organization reaches the community's neediest families and individuals through a community soup kitchen and , two facilities that rely heavily on volunteers.

Located at 617 Main St. in Middletown, St. Vincent de Paul's soup kitchen serves about 300 meals per day, according to Lydia Brewster, Assistant Director of Community Services for SVD. 

"And that's been going up steadily the past couple of years," she said.

The soup kitchen is open 363 days a year and provides breakfast, lunch and dinner to visitors. Volunteers can either work in the kitchen or donate food.

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In addition, church groups or other organizations of faith are invited to provide Sunday dinner, which is served every week from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

SVD also offers volunteer opportunities at Amazing Grace Food Pantry located at 16 Stack St., Middletown.

Each month, between 900-1,000 families "shop" the food pantry's shelves which are stocked with food items donated by local organizations and individuals, or purchased with funds donated to SVD.

The food pantry offers a number of volunteer opportunities.

"The food pantry is very low on food so running food drives is always a wonderful thing and at anytime anyone can go over to Amazing Grace on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday and volunteer their time to stock shelves or help people to shop," Brewster said.

During summer harvest season, fresh produce donations are also welcome.

"We take it in both places, so that we can offer it to families to bring home and cook and so that we can also use it as an ingredient here."

For more information on volunteer opportunities contact St. Vincent de Paul or Amazing Grace Food Pantry. (To serve a meal at the soup kitchen, you must be at least 12 years old. All volunteers under 18 must have an adult present at all times.)

Check out for more volunteer opportunities in Middlesex County.