Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen opened its doors on March 10, 2008 in the St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish Center at the corner of Columbia and Varick streets in Utica, NY. A week later, on March 17, local dignitaries joined the volunteers for a ribbon-cutting grand opening.
Initially the soup kitchen served soups and sandwiches during the week, and a bagged lunch on Saturdays. Eventually the operation expanded to seven days a week, serving hot meals (not just soup) during the week and bagged lunches on the weekend.
Founding Group and Founding Volunteers
A Visionary Launch from a speech by Mary Stronach, OFS, during the church’s 175th Anniversary celebration in 2016.
Founder Deacon Gil’s inspiration (its’ a good thing he listened to his wife).