BronxWorks January 2026 Newsletter - Kitchen Services Across the Agency

Sep 27, 2026

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BronxWorks highlights the reach of its kitchen services ahead of Pride in Food Service Week, emphasizing how multiple agency kitchens prepare and deliver thousands of meals daily to support nutrition, cultural relevance, and community wellbeing. The newsletter details operations at the Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center, adult homeless services kitchens serving nearly 1,000 meals daily year-round, and older adult centers producing hundreds of meals through centralized preparation. It also spotlights free seasonal tax services and staff leadership in daily meal production.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Kitchen Services Across the Agency

Kitchen Operations At Our Flagship Community Center

Kitchen Operations in our Adult Homeless Services Department

Kitchen Services for Older Adult Centers

BronxWorks Food Service Coordinators

BronxWorks Offers Free Seasonal Tax Services

Another Big Thank You To Our Holiday Supporters

Kitchen Services Across the Agency In celebration of the upcoming Pride in Food Service Week (February 2 - February 6), BronxWorks is thrilled to shine a light on the incredible impact of our kitchen services across programming. A major pillar of the BronxWorks mission is to FEED our neighbors to build a stronger Bronx community, and our kitchen operations are a main contributor to this work. BronxWorks operates multiple kitchens which prepare and deliver meals for thousands of community members every day. Our dedicated kitchen staff work diligently to ensure all food service needs are met every single day. All of our kitchens follow meal plans created in-house by the food service coordinatorsand a registered dietician. Together, they ensure that all meals meet the various nutritional requirements of each population served and are culturally appropriate and tasty for our participants. Kitchen Operations At Our Flagship Community Center The BronxWorks Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center (CMCC) is home to dozens of programs and welcomes hundreds of people every day. The CMCC kitchen produces over 1,000 meals daily, supporting programs such as our early childhood learning centers, after-school programs, family shelters, and more. Meals are distributed throughout the building and to over a dozen sites each day. CMCC also assists the other BronxWorks kitchen operations as needed with meals for older adult centers and homeless services locations. For various celebrations at CMCC, the kitchen also provides catering based on the needs of the event. Daisy Pinero (left photo), Maribel Abreu (right photo), and other staff prepare meals in the CMCC kitchen. Daisy and Maribel have led kitchen operations at CMCC for over 20 years. Kitchen Operations in our Adult Homeless Services Department BronxWorks is a leader in providing services for individuals experiencing homelessness in the Bronx. Through the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS), we operate shelters, safe havens, and a drop-in center that provide daily meals, among many other services, to those in need. Two kitchens provide almost 1,000 meals a day to five locations. Unique from most other BronxWorks programs, our homeless services operate 365 days a year, and so do their kitchens. For many of those served by these programs, BronxWorks is their primary source for healthy, hot meals every day. Therefore, the staff often have conversations with the clients to hear their feedback, which they try to implement in collaboration with DHS. "People eat with their eyes first, so I always make sure what we're serving to the clients looks good and tastes good. I cook with love!" -Dio Espinal, Kitchen Supervisor at a BronxWorks Safe Haven Older adults often enjoy special meals to celebrate holidays throughout the year. Kitchen Services for Older Adult Centers In partnership with the NYC Department For The Aging (DFTA), BronxWorks operates nine older adult centers in the Bronx, where seniors can find recreation, community, daily meals, and other supports. Each center provides breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday. Meals for all nine centers are prepared at the Morris Older Adult Center kitchen. This kitchen typically operates with a dozen staff and produces at least 500 meals every day, which are then distributed among the nine centers. Through DFTA, older adults also have the opportunity to volunteer in the kitchen, as part of a program to earn workplace skills to help them find jobs. Staff ensure that hundreds of Bronx older adults have tasty, hot meals daily. Participation in program planning is built into the framework of BronxWorks Older Adult Centers, so seniors are regularly invited to share their feedback on the menu with staff. "Every day is a different meal. Everyone is always satisfied. " -Luz, Older Adult Center Participant Crystal Anceume and Daisy Pinero BronxWorks Food Service Coordinators Crystal Anceume Food Service Coord

FAQs

How does BronxWorks ensure meals meet nutritional and cultural needs?

BronxWorks kitchens follow meal plans created in-house by food service coordinators and a registered dietician. They work together to meet nutritional requirements and ensure meals are culturally appropriate and tasty.

What is the daily meal support model for BronxWorks homeless services?

Two kitchens provide almost 1,000 meals a day to five locations, operating 365 days a year. The staff regularly seek client feedback to improve service in collaboration with the NYC Department of Homeless Services.

How are meals for older adult centers prepared and distributed?

Meals for all nine older adult centers are prepared at the Morris Older Adult Center kitchen, typically operating with about a dozen staff to produce at least 500 meals daily. Meals are then distributed Monday through Friday to each center.

Sep 27, 2026

Upload by Hazel