Stephen Henderson is an incredibly talented journalist. His writing brings you into a story as if you were standing right next to him while it was all happening. Stephen also was one of my beloved late brother Brian’s dearest friends.
With his remarkable and important book, The 24-Hour Soup Kitchen, Stephen brings you into the world of Gastrophilanthropy – giving to others through food. (Gastrophilanthropy was invented by 19th century chef Alexis Soyer, who invented the soup kitchen in Victorian England.)
After Stephen spent a week cooking at a soup kitchen in Delhi, India which feeds 20,000 people each day, he wanted to learn more about how people feed poor and hungry people around the world. His reading and global research about Gastrophilanthropy led him to write this beautiful book.
It’s fascinating, informative and moving to read vignettes about Stephen’s journey from making batches of cookies for local shelters, to volunteering to cook for great numbers of homeless and poor people all over the planet.
The book’s website – www.the24-hoursoupkitchen.com – has lots of interesting information about Stephen’s journey and even includes recipes.
XO Brenda
Here’s information on local food pantries. It’s a good idea to call ahead for hours of operation. And please let me know about your experiences, and if we should add food pantries to our list…
Boston
Greater Boston Food Bank, 70 South Bay Avenue, 617.427.5200, www.gbfb.org
Haley House, 23 Dartmouth Street, 617.236.8132, www.haleyhouse.org
Project Bread, 145 Border Street, East Boston, 617.723.5000, www.projectbread.org
Roslindale Congregational Church, 25 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, 617.323.8302, www.roscon.org
Braintree
Braintree Food Pantry, Grace Church at 14 Storrs Ave #2, 781.277.1609, www.braintreefoodpantry.org
Brookline
Brookline Food Pantry, 617.800.5339, www.brooklinefoodpantry.org
Cambridge
Food for Free, 11 Inman Square, 617.866.2900, www.foodforfree.org
Dedham
Dedham Food Pantry, 600 Washington Street, 781.320.9442, www.dedhamfoodpantry.org
Milton
Milton Community Food Pantry, 158 Blue Hills Parkway, 617.696.0221, www.miltonfoodpantry.org
Needham
Needham Community Council, 570 Hillside Avenue, 781.444.2415, www.needhamcommunitycouncil.org
Newton
Centre Street Food Pantry, 11 Homer Street, 617.340.9554, https://centrestreetfoodpantry.org
Somerville
Project Soup, 165 Broadway, 617.776-7687, https://somervillehomelesscoalition.org/food-security