Project Hospitality 2025: Annual Poor People’s Dinner unites Staten Islanders

Published: Nov. 25, 2025, 6:57 p.m.

Project Hospitality hosts 28th Annual Poor People's Dinner on Staten Island — Project Hospitality staff, community members, and local officials gather at the 28th annual Poor People’s Dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn.Courtesy of Project Hospitality

By Sydney Maldonado | smaldonado@siadvance.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Project Hospitality staff, community members, and local officials gathered Monday night for the 28th Annual Poor People’s Dinner to share a meal, reflect on gratitude and support the organization’s mission to fight hunger on Staten Island.

Now in its 28th year, the Poor People’s Dinner unites Staten Islanders around a single goal: supporting Project Hospitality as it feeds, shelters and assists people in need across the borough. Donations from the event help stock the nonprofit’s food pantries and support its wider network of social services.

Speakers at the dinner included the Rev. Janet Jones, board chair of Project Hospitality; the Rev. Karen Pershing, community impact officer; and the Rev. Terry Troia, president and chief executive officer. People of all ages — from students to clergy and community leaders — gathered to hear their remarks.

Food insecurity on Staten Island: Project Hospitality's annual dinner raises awareness — Project Hospitality board of chair Rev. Janet Jones speaks at the 28th Annual Poor People’s Dinner on Monday night at the Hilton Garden Inn.Courtesy of Project Hospitality

“Tonight, we gather to share a meager meal, a meal that is more than an act of empathy, more than an act of compassion. It’s just getting an inkling of what it’s like to have a meal and still be hungry. It’s an act of justice,” Jones said. “You see, we’re living in a time where the need for help to put nutritious food on the table is growing more and more. At the same time, the funds we’ve relied on in the past may not be available. As more people turn to Project Hospitality for assistance, the picture of food insecurity is becoming increasingly diverse.”

Following her remarks, ROTC students from Port Richmond High School presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance before speeches and remarks from community leaders.

Rabbi Michael Howald of Temple Israel and Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center then led blessings over the meal, bringing together residents of different faiths in a moment of shared reflection and gratitude.

Interfaith leaders unite at Staten Island's annual Poor People's Dinner — Rabbi Michael Howald, of Temple Israel, and Imam Tahir Kukaj bless a modest meal of bean soup at the 28th Annual Poor People’s Dinner on Monday night.Courtesy of Project Hospitality

Howald closed his prayer by inviting attendees “for the first act of fulfillment — to eat of the bread over which He sent to us.”

Staten Island nonprofit hosts 28th annual dinner to combat food insecurity — Staten Island community members picking up their bean soup at the 28th Annual Poor People’s Dinner.Courtesy of Project Hospitality

Guests then shared a simple meal of bean soup, a piece of bread, and a bottle of water, reflecting on the experience of those who face hunger daily. Before the meal, Don Reilly of Project Hospitality reminded attendees that the simplicity was intentional — an invitation to sit with the discomfort and understand, even briefly, what many neighbors endure when they go to bed hungry.

Rev. Karen Pershing - Project Hospitality's Community Impact Officer — The Rev. Karen Pershing speaks at the 28th Annual Poor People’s Dinner on Monday night.Courtesy of Project Hospitality

The Rev. Karen Pershing, community impact officer at Project Hospitality, reflected on her first month with the organization, which coincided with the devastation of Superstorm Sandy. She said it was the first of many crises that revealed the nonprofit’s moral imperative to help those in need.

Pershing described the challenges the organization faces as a “double whammy” of funding cuts and rising need.

She highlighted a $500,000 state cut to emergency food programming in 2024 and noted that, without the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), Project Hospitality would struggle to feed hundreds of residents daily.

With temporary support from private foundations and what she called “small miracles,” the nonprofit served 32,000 people last year.

Pershing highlighted ongoing food insecurity in New York City, citing the Robin Hood Foundation’s annual poverty tracker report. She noted that rising prices and impending cuts to SNAP and other safety net programs are expected to worsen hardship, with food costs in the metro area up 33% over the past decade.

Pershing noted Project Hospitality’s emergency grant program, which provides one-time grants of up to $3,000 to roughly 200 Staten Island families each year to help alleviate specific financial setbacks.

Pershing shared the story of Peggy, a mother of two and home health aide who recently turned to Project Hospitality. After losing her client, she had no income while seeking new work and struggled to keep up with bills. Prioritizing rent, she fell behind on her Con Edison payments and went three days without electricity. Project Hospitality was able to pay the balance and restore her power the same day, helping her family avoid further hardship.

“The solution to get to the other side of this crisis is the community coming together,” Pershing said.

She encouraged residents to help in whatever way works best for them, whether donating money, volunteering at food pantries, or supporting other programs. “There are many ways to help — you just have to choose which is best for you,” she said.

Terry Troia, president and CEO of Project Hospitality speaks at the 28th Annual Poor People’s Dinner on Monday night.Courtesy of Project Hospitality

Following Pershing’s speech, Troia spoke about the importance of extending oneself beyond comfort zones.

She highlighted Carlos, an 18-year-old immigrant who recently volunteered at a food pantry despite facing his own challenges. Carlos has no arms and does not qualify for Social Security Disability.

“He was handless and armless, and I was speechless,’’ she said. ”If Carlos can do it, you and I can feed hungry people. We can open up beds for the homeless in churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples on our Island.

“We can show up to help like he did and organize to raise money for gas, food trucks, or tolls to pick up produce every week in Brooklyn,’’ she continued.

Troia closed her speech by encouraging attendees to support Project Hospitality in any way they could — through volunteering, donating, or otherwise contributing — emphasizing that community help is needed now more than ever.

Students and staff from private, parochial, and public schools helped greet guests and organize donations of food brought to the event.

As the evening concluded, attendees joined in singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” led by Alexa Viggiano, a student at St. Joseph Hill Academy.

Students and staff from St. Joseph Hill Academy are pictured at the 28th Annual Poor People’s dinner on Monday night.Courtesy of Project Hospitality

Large quantities of proteins and other nutritious staples brought to the event will be packed and distributed through Project Hospitality’s pantries and mobile food pantries, serving residents across Staten Island.