UWS Steps Up to Support Advent Food Ministry

By Jon Methven

In 2024, the call went out to the New York City community. The kitchen at the Advent Food Ministry, at West 93rd Street and Broadway, which houses both the Food Pantry and Community Lunch teams, faced a major challenge: outdated and failing equipment, even as food insecurity was rising across the Upper West Side. 

Thanks to overwhelming community support, Advent has raised $130,000 toward what will be a major renovation during a time when inflation has driven up grocery costs and food pantry lines are expected to lengthen.

The renovation, set to commence later this year, will include a 10-burner gas range with double ovens, a full-size double rack convection oven with its own ventilation hood, and a six-foot stainless steel prep table. Cleanup will be vastly improved thanks to a new three-compartment sink with a high-powered sprayer, and open stainless steel shelving. 

Refrigeration capacity will be consolidated and expanded with two double-door refrigerators, a two-door freezer, and a single-door refrigerator. A new, low-maintenance kitchen floor will complete the overhaul.

“This kitchen renovation is a game-changer,” said Fred Grumm, longtime Advent Community Kitchen leader. “Right now, we’re making it work with what we have, but we could be doing so much more. This upgrade will allow us to serve more meals, more efficiently.”

Projections show that the new kitchen will increase hot meal production each Saturday when necessary. With better refrigeration and prep space, the Food Pantry expects to improve the quality and freshness of distributed groceries and increase its output by 15%, reaching an estimated 416,000 meals distributed in the year ahead.

The Community Lunch program has seen consistent demand since the pandemic.

“Every week, we see new faces,” said Carlos Lopez, a member of the Community Lunch Strategy Team. “Some are first-timers who never thought they’d need a free meal. Others have been coming for years. No one should have to choose between paying rent and eating dinner.”

Advent Lutheran Church Pastor Danielle Miller said that community solidarity, more than anything else, has made the work possible “This ministry is built on generosity. The food we serve, the volunteers who show up, the funds that keep us going. It’s all a testament to what happens when people come together to take care of each other.”

A second component of this hunger initiative is the longstanding Advent Food Pantry, which has been a lifeline for countless New Yorkers, distributing over 362,000 meals in 2024 alone. Twice a month, families receive grocery bags packed with fresh produce and pantry staples, while those facing immediate hunger can count on ready-to-eat meals and hot dishes.

“We’ve grown significantly over the past year,” said Community Lunch’s Lauren Johnson. “We’ve fine-tuned our process, built a strong volunteer team, and distributed more meals in 2025. But the kitchen is our bottleneck. With this renovation, we can increase capacity and improve the quality of what we serve.”

As food insecurity continues to rise on the Upper West Side, the upgraded kitchen is expected to transform what Advent can provide: fresher groceries, more hot meals, and a greater sense of stability for neighbors facing hunger. 

More funds are needed to complete the kitchen renovation. Contact us here or email us at: adventhungerteam@gmail.com to learn more.