Judy’s Kindness Kitchen, a program of Congregation Beth Sholom, is a Sunday Soup Kitchen that was established in November 2004. Every Sunday we prepare 600 sandwiches, plus snacks, at the Jewish Community Center at 401 Elmgrove Avenue in Providence, which are delivered to Crossroads Rhode Island, Emanuel House, and The Rescue Mission. (In 2004 we were delivering just to Crossroads RI, in 2013 we added Emanuel House, and in 2020 we added The Rescue Mission. As we added sites we increased our sandwich production from about 150 sandwiches in 2004 to the 600 sandwiches we now prepare). We are an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization and we’d love to have you join us.
Mission Statement
According to Jewish tradition, “Ohel Avraham” (the tent of the patriarch Abraham) had four entrances, each facing one of the four directions, so that those in need would behold the promise of relief from every side. Judy's Kindness Kitchen seeks to emulate the example of Abraham by providing meals to our neighbors in need.
Our Goal is to run a soup kitchen that
- Provides nourishing meals in locations that are convenient to those in need.
- Strengthens our Providence community by encouraging members of different groups to work together to help those in need.
- Secures funding and a broad volunteer commitment to assure sustainability over the long-term.
The soup kitchen is open to all (guests and volunteers) without regard to race, sex, religion, ethnic background or age. We are staffed entirely by volunteers and based at Congregation Beth Sholom, an Orthodox Jewish synagogue, in partnership with Crossroads Rhode Island, Emmanuel House, and The Rescue Mission, all programs serving the homeless in Providence.
Crossroads Rhode Island, the largest homeless services organization in the state, provides for those in need in the Providence area, but no meals were served on Sunday. Judy's Kindness Kitchen offered to prepare meals for distribution at Crossroads on Sunday. Since November 2013, in addition to delivering food to Crossroads, we have also been delivering food to the Emanuel House Homeless Shelter and in 2020 we started delivering food to The Rescue Mission, all located in downtown Providence.
Jewish Community Center
401 Elmgrove Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island. (Directions)
Meals are prepared at the Jewish Community Center and delivered to homeless shelters in downtown Providence.
Sunday Morning, food preparation from 8:15 – 9:30 am.
Food is served at Crossroads from 10:00 – 11:30 am.
A nourishing Kosher meal.
- Tuna Sandwiches
- Peanut Butter Sandwiches
- Snacks
We prepare 600 sandwiches and snacks.
The soup kitchen was founded by Barry Bessler, Deborah Kutenplon, and the Congregation Beth Sholom Social Action Committee.
This web site was designed and maintained by volunteers. It is an important link between Judy's Kindness Kitchen and our community of guests, volunteers and supporters.
Ongoing outreach will occur through Congregation Beth Sholom, Emmanuel House, The Rescue Mission and Crossroads Rhode Island,
Grants and donations, both monetary and in-kind, support Judy’s Kindness Kitchen. Vic Werber and Dr. David Mandelbaum are major supporters, in honor of Judy Mandelbaum, after whom the soup kitchen is named.