Brooklyn Food Pantry Enlarges, Broadens Services

A Brooklyn food pantry opened its new location in Bedford-Stuyvesant Wednesday. Saint John's University's Bread and Life program and Soup Kitchen moved across Bedford Stuyvesant to a larger location at 795 Lexington Avenue, which includes upgrades like a digital choice food pantry, library, classroom and a chapel.

"We immediately started looking for a place that could really show the great respect we have for our clients, the great respect we have for the people who are in need. In a real sense, we want this to be an oasis for people,” said Father Donald Harrington, president of St. John’s University.

"No one judges you here,” said regular user Frederick Parker. “For the people who come to eat and for services like myself, sometimes it's like we are all together. Maybe my problem might be different from these guys who are eating at the same table, however we all come to forget just for a little bit."

The Bread and Life program serves about 1,200 meals a day in addition to offering a wide range of social services.