Welcome Friends Soup Kitchen

Welcome Friends of Greater Port Jefferson – Serving with Dignity Since the 1970s

For more than 40 years, our all-volunteer team has been a lifeline for neighbors in need. What began as small, independent church kitchens in the 1970s grew into a united effort, and in 2016, we proudly became an independent not-for-profit organization: Welcome Friends of Greater Port Jefferson Inc.

Rooted in the tradition of compassion, dignity, and respect, we serve hot, nutritious meals four days every week—even through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. When our dining rooms closed, we adapted, providing “take-home” meals prepared in our kitchens or purchased from local restaurants, ensuring no one in our community went without.

Our volunteers are the heart of Welcome Friends. Together, we fight hunger while building partnerships with local food markets, farms, religious institutions, civic leaders, and caring neighbors. This network not only provides meals, but also creates a safe, welcoming space where those facing hunger and poverty feel valued and supported.

As our President, Ted Lucki, shares: “Gratitude cannot be adequately expressed for the encouragement and support the Port Jefferson community has provided to help our less fortunate neighbors.”

Join us in keeping this tradition alive—because when we come together, no neighbor is left behind.