Spencerport Council of the Knights of Columbus has been a long-time supporter of St Peter’s Kitchen on Brown Street in Rochester. Once a month, a group of Knights and some of their family members volunteer to serve meals to the less fortunate in our society. One Saturday in October, the Knights served 185 meals and prepared another 185 lunches for fellow neighbors in the area. Joining the Knights were two nursing students from St. John Fisher College of Nursing. The school partners with the kitchen and requires all its students to participate in some kind of community service. The lunches were to help the kitchen’s patrons have something nourishing to eat on Sunday, when the kitchen is closed.
On Wednesday, November 19, they served 388 meals. “As we get later in the month, people’s cash and food allowance start to run out, so we see a greater influx of people looking for a nutritious and hot meal,” said kitchen director Robert Boyd.
Volunteers arrive by 9 a.m. and work until 1 or 1:30 p.m. Some prepare the main meal, while others assemble drinks or side dishes. When the doors open for people to come in, the rules are that one can’t be intoxicated and cannot bring any alcohol into the kitchen. “There are hardly ever any problems with those who come in for meals,” said Boyd. The doors close at 1 p.m., and all that is left to do is a little clean-up.
St. Peter’s Kitchen, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been serving the west side of Rochester since 1982. They work to reduce food insecurity by having a lunch program Monday through Saturday. Lunches are tasty and nutritionally balanced. A choice pantry is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Pantry delivery is also available. Access to nutritious food is a key social driver of health and plays a critical role in determining overall health and well-being.
Guests at St. Peter’s Kitchen are 40% seniors, 30% veterans, 96% are housed, and 4% unhoused. Black/African American community members represent 60% of guests, white 29%, and Hispanic 11%. More than half of the guests don’t have a car, making it difficult for them to access food, social services, and other essential services.
Food insecurity has increased due to a myriad of factors. In Monroe County, 12.1% of the population is food insecure according to Feeding America. Black and Hispanic residents are more likely to be food insecure. In our region, 8% of white residents are food insecure, compared to 27% of Black residents and 28% of Hispanic residents. From 2020 to 2024, U.S. food prices increased by 23.6%, outpacing wages and Social Security. Lower-income individuals are affected more as they spend a greater proportion of their income on food. Rising housing and utility costs add financial pressure, causing community members to make difficult choices between essentials such as food, medicine, heat, and rent. St. Peter’s Kitchen has become an increasingly vital source of food for so many community members.
The number of meals served has risen by 24% compared to the previous year, with an average of 300 to 400 provided daily, six days a week. In the past year, 130,694 meals have been distributed in the community. This year, pantry visits have totaled 5,675 households (9,926 individuals), nearly twice the number recorded last year. It is estimated that around 500,000 pounds of food will be used this year.
Social services are also provided primarily on a referral basis, along with a Christmas Toy Store, Backpack, and other holiday giveaways and events. St. Peter’s Kitchen has several partnerships that benefit community health, including St. John Fisher University School of Nursing and His Branches Community Health Center. They also partner with the School of the Holy Childhood and Continuing Developmental Services to offer weekly work opportunities for developmentally disabled adults.
“We invite you to come visit us to see how we make a difference in people’s lives,” Boyd said. “We are always in need of time, talents, and treasures.”
For more information or to learn how to get involved, visit https://www.stpeterskitchen.org/.
