September 14, 2006
Queens, NY -
St. John’s University announced today that the Diocese of
Brooklyn has transferred control of St. John’s Bread & Life
Program, Inc. to the University. The organization, established
in 1982 by St. John the Baptist Parish in Bedford Stuyvesant and
run by the Diocese of Brooklyn provides social services to those in
need in the New York Metropolitan Area.
“Since its establishment St. John’s Bread & Life has been
based at the original home of St. John’s University,” said Rev. Donald J.
Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s University. “This new
relationship with Bread & Life brings St. John’s back to its
roots and provides our faculty, students, alumni and administrators
with yet another opportunity of service to the local community.
This is a wonderful outreach program for the University to embrace.
A Vincentian and Catholic University must be a vibrant part of its
community. Acceptance of this responsibility for Bread &
Life is a clear statement of that commitment.”
The Bread & Life Program served 124,236 meals to the
homeless in 2005 as part of their Soup Kitchen operations and
another 84,354 meals through their Mobile Soup Kitchen last
year. They also offer a Food Pantry (serving 146,571 in ’05),
a Legal Clinic, Nutrition Counseling, Medical Support in
partnership with Care for the Homeless, Inc., Support Groups,
Sponsor-A-Family and a Food Stamp Application program.
St. John’s University looks forward to this unique opportunity
for service. Our faculty and students will also seize the
opportunity to advance their knowledge of the root causes of
poverty and explore other opportunities to provide additional
services and clinical support. The University believes that
Bread & Life will be unlike any other university-based
community service and research program offered in the country.
For more information please contact Dominic Scianna, Director of
Media Relations at St. John’s University by calling (718) 990-6185
or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.