An Update from Heart for the Homeless
Since 1990, Hearts for the Homeless® has been dedicated to serving the community through relationship ministry. Characterized by a profound spiritual motivation to share the Word of God, Hearts’ staff and volunteers nourish the community physically and spiritually through various outreach programs and initiatives. Through prayer, partnerships and hard work, Hearts has been able to maintain serving the community for over thirty years, and Hearts has experienced God’s faithfulness each day!
Through Hearts’ longest running program, the Mobile Soup Kitchen serves nutritious meals and the love of God to those less fortunate 5 nights a week, 52 weeks a year. Teams of our dedicated volunteers serve hot meals, sandwiches, drinks, and desserts to members of the community outside the downtown library. Each night you can find our volunteers, many of whom are spiritually motivated, offering food, clothing, companionship, and pertinent information regarding area services. The Hearts Mobile Soup Kitchen served over 16,000 poor and homeless individuals in 2023, ensuring community members in need can dine with dignity.
Hearts is called to serve people in our community who are experiencing a lack of finances, food, stability, and peace. We meet people at each of our Mobile Soup Kitchen meal services who are facing extreme challenges including mental and physical health crises, loss of their home, jobs, or spouses, and who are searching for hope. Throughout the last few years as we have continued to see longer lines and growth of our Mobile Soup Kitchen program, our staff have in turn experienced the love of God firsthand, as we see donations come through the door, funds come through the mail, and volunteers sign up to help when we need it the most. These answered prayers leave us speechless and in awe of His faithfulness in our lives and the work that we do to reach those in need in our region. Hearts for the Homeless® is not alone in serving others and shares in what God has provided us with other ministries. "Bringing hope, praise, community and food to the unsheltered every week year round,” said Will Marcy, friend of the homeless, who is involved with several agencies serving those facing homelessness around Buffalo and WNY. Will or his team members come every Sunday to Hearts to pick up 100 sandwiches for Curbside Church, a ministry of the Buffalo Dream Center. Here, church members get the chance to spread the Word of God and serve food every Sunday at Fireman’s Park in downtown Buffalo. Many are finding better housing situations and jobs through the power of prayer and the support of community partnerships.
We are thankful to have the support of The Chapel as we serve the chronic poor and homeless. It is evident that the Hearts Mobile Soup Kitchen and our partnership with Curbside Church are just a few examples of the Kingdom at work.