Skip to content
HelpBLESS
MoneyFood & hungerUrgent

Weekly meals for families and seniors in Rochester

The Bread & Beans Kitchen pantry in Rochester is running low just as demand rises; $2,300 will stock it for 6 weeks.

🇺🇸 Rochester, New York, United States2,788 views
Benjamin Steele
Email verified
Rochester
Since 2023, our volunteer team has run Bread & Beans Kitchen every Friday from the back of the old library basement. We started with 28 families, and now we feed 272 each week. Donations have dropped by about 44% this summer, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 7 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Rochester market and keep every receipt. Each $50 feeds a family of four for a week. I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday. Where the $2,300 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $980 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $550 • Baby formula and diapers: $430 • Refrigeration and electricity: $340 I'll pay this kindness forward the moment I'm able to.

Updates from Benjamin

No updates yet. Supporters are notified when the owner posts one.

  • Kiara A. Anand 🇮🇳 · $20

    “Thought of Benjamin all day after reading this. - Rohini”

  • Sara Reem Nabulsi 🇸🇦 · $25

    “Stay strong. I'm in Jeddah, thinking of you.”

  • Mona Iman Osman 🇪🇬 · $25
  • Bennett B. Byrd 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Dario Bruno Valentini 🇮🇹 · $10
  • Seema E. Bedi 🇮🇳 · $100
  • Elijah Robertson 🇺🇸 · $15

    “Be well. From Austin with love.”

  • Tashana E. Walker 🇯🇲 · $15

    “Blessings. - Half-Way Tree”

  • Himari Harada 🇯🇵 · $10
  • Takeshi Takeshi Fujita 🇯🇵 · $20

    “Sending love. I'm in Shinjuku, thinking of you. - Shinjuku”

  • Donatella Anna Martinelli 🇮🇹 · $10

    “Praying for you. Hope the October deadline works out. - Rome”

  • Afshan Laiba Baig 🇵🇰 · $20
  • Mustafa Walid Kamel 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Alice G. Espinoza 🇺🇸 · $67
  • Josiane Edilene Dias 🇧🇷 · $10

    “Hope this helps. Saw your post and had to give. - São Paulo”

  • Mariana Paredes 🇲🇽 · $30
  • Hesti Putri Wibowo 🇮🇩 · $10

    “I'm in Bandung, thinking of you. - Bandung”

  • Anonymous 🇪🇬 · $78
  • Julián B. Flores 🇲🇽 · $50

    “Good luck. Hope the October deadline works out. - Guadalajara”

  • Trisha W. Velasco 🇵🇭 · $21

    “Hope it all works out - Taguig”

Reviews

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

No reviews yet.

Questions & comments

Ask before you give. Email-verified members can comment and ask questions - no donation needed.

Sign in or create a free account to join the conversation.

  • Wishing you peace, Benjamin. This could happen to any of us. Blessings.

    • hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it. Greetings from Austin.

      • How is Benjamin doing now?

        • thinking of you. More neighborhoods should do this. I'll check back for the next update. Greetings from Coyoacán.

          • Sending love, Benjamin. It takes guts to ask. Well done!

            • Is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Benjamin

              • Benjamin SteeleOwnerAnswer

                Everything on the list is an amount I've been quoted or invoiced. rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale) comes first ($980) and I'll update the page as each thing gets paid. Fair thing to want to know.

            • hang in there. Gave what I could, wish it was more. My colleague had a similar thing happen so this one hit home.

              • can I help in a way that isn't money? I'm near Rochester

                • sending good thoughts, Benjamin. Hope you get there. I went through something like this 10 years ago and strangers helped me out.

                  • Sending love. More neighborhoods should do this. Blessings

                    • Hope things get better soon. This could happen to any of us. My sister had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. Love from Aurangabad.

                      • Thanks for sharing this, Benjamin. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Thinking of Rochester.

                        • Uwe Thomas JungVerified organization

                          Hope things get better soon, Benjamin. Your post was clear and honest. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day.

                          • Sending good thoughts, Benjamin. Hope you get there. Don't give up. Take care

                            • it takes guts to ask. Well done. Don't give up. God bless

                              • Hope this works out for you. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double. Greetings from Coventry.

                                • Thanks for sharing this, Benjamin. Looking forward to the next update. It's not much but it's yours. Thinking of Rochester.

                                  • Josiah WareID verified

                                    So sorry you're going through this, Benjamin. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes.

                                    • Sending good thoughts. Shared this with my family. Take care

                                      • Keep going, Benjamin. It takes guts to ask. Well done.

                                        • Praying for you, Benjamin. Shared it with a few friends. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Love from Kota

                                          • Wishing you peace, Benjamin. Projects like this are what make a place worth living in. Greetings from Ogbomosho.

                                            • hang in there. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Wish I lived closer to Móstoles so I could bring a meal. Greetings from Seoul.

                                              • Umesh J. KumarPhoto verified

                                                Looking forward to the next update. Wish I lived closer to Epe so I could bring a meal.

                                                • Alberto R. NúñezPhoto verified

                                                  I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. We're a small family in Saket but we're thinking of you. All the best

                                                  • Rooting for you, Benjamin. Gave what I could, wish it was more. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust!

                                                    • Best of luck, Benjamin. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer

                                                      • Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. We're a small family in Madurai but we're thinking of you. Thinking of Rochester.

                                                        • Thinking of you and your family, Benjamin. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. We had a similar scare last year, I know what it feels like. All the best.

                                                          • Hang in there, Benjamin. Shared this with my family. Please keep us posted. Thinking of Rochester.

                                                            • Sending good thoughts. Great idea, hope you get there. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day.

                                                              • Keep going, Benjamin. I hope things turn around soon. God bless.

                                                                • Good luck, Benjamin. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Love from Fresno

                                                                  • So sorry you're going through this, Benjamin. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Please keep us posted. Take care!

                                                                    • Keep going, Benjamin. Hope you get there. Greetings from Grand Rapids

                                                                      • hang in there. I hope things turn around soon. My cousin had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. Thinking of Rochester

                                                                        • Sending strength. Hope you get there. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. All the best!

                                                                          • Yvonne Ingrid Van DamPhoto verified

                                                                            Good luck, Benjamin. Shared it with a few friends. Greetings from Bristol

                                                                            $1,691 raised of $2,300

                                                                            Give

                                                                            More people who need help