2022 Thanksgiving Celebration - The Bowery Mission: Updates

The busiest time of the year

Thanksgiving is such a critical time for The Bowery Mission. In a city where New Yorkers experiencing homelessness can often feel invisible or even threatened, we offer a safe and welcoming “home” — a “family table” to be seen and heard. At our annual celebration, we were excited to gather together in community — back indoors in our historic chapel — with live music and a delicious Thanksgiving feast served with love. Guests also had the option for outdoor seating and to-go meals, and received practical care kits filled with hygiene items and winter accessories. We know that a special holiday meal at the Mission can be the first step toward a new life out of homelessness, addiction or whatever need our neighbors face this season.

Photo credit: Yooree Park of FRAME Studios

“It’s a good thing to get together to help others. And most importantly, to say thanks to God — ‘for everything You have given me, and for everything I can’t see now, but I know is happening.’”

— Mauricio, former client of The Bowery Mission

The impact of your support

Thanks to dedicated supporters, donors and volunteers, The Bowery Mission has kept its Red Doors open every day to provide meals, shelter, clothing, showers and more. It’s more important now than ever, as nearly 70,000 men, women and children are experiencing homelessness in our city, and an estimated 1 in 6 New Yorkers is food insecure. We are grateful for compassionate friends like you who are showing our neighbors in need that they are not alone and that someone cares.

During the months of October and November, we served an estimated 50,000 meals at multiple campuses throughout Manhattan. This culminated with over 1,700 meals on Thanksgiving Day alone.

Weeks in advance, we began working to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal for each guest. This included 200 turkeys, 2,500 pounds of potatoes, 600 pounds of stuffing, 740 pounds of apple chutney, 740 pounds of succotash and 400 pies. Everything was home-cooked, prepared with love by our faithful staff, supporters and volunteers. 

On Monday of Thanksgiving Week, we hosted special holiday meal services for our overnight emergency shelter guests at the Tribeca Campus, serving over 150 traditional Thanksgiving meals.

Our Residential Program clients at our Harlem and East Harlem Campuses also prepared and enjoyed Thanksgiving meals in community.

The Bowery Mission’s Mont Lawn City Camp children’s programs hosted a Giving Thanks event, providing 130 meal kits to families in East Harlem and the South Bronx with a turkey, pantry goods and grocery gift card.

How The Bowery Mission prepares for Thanksgiving

Ways to support The Bowery Mission throughout the year

Give financially

Give meals & hope

Donate towards meals, radical hospitality and other critical care all year-round. Think about how many people you can help with your special gift today. 

Fundraise

Learn more

Create a fundraising campaign that will supply thousands of meals and other care for neighbors in need. Our online fundraising platform is a great tool for mobilizing your personal and professional networks to care for people experiencing homelessness and hunger in New York City. You can also find additional ideas for corporate and community fundraisers.

Donate goods

Host a giving drive to help our community. Learn about current needs and more at bowery.org/donategoods.

Volunteer

Join us in our work to empower others! Prepare or serve meals, tutor and mentor clients or participate in skill-based opportunities.

Thank you for your support

We can’t do it alone. Preparing meals for this many people not only requires a lot of effort, it requires a lot of resources. Your generous heart helps welcome each person who comes to our Red Doors with love, encouragement and hope at a time when they need it most.