ANNOUNCEMENT from our friends at CHIPS: As our lines grow longer each day, our soup kitchen is running out of sandwiches on a daily basis. We need your help to provide sandwiches to our hungry guests! Please drop-off sandwiches to CHiPS at 200 Fourth Avenue between 9am-11am Mondays through Saturdays. We are asking for the following types of sandwiches: turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, egg salad, tuna salad, chicken salad, and peanut butter and jelly. Please wrap/package sandwiches individually and label each one! This is because we let our guests decide what sandwich they want, and it helps us to serve them faster when the sandwiches are labelled! You can also drop-off ingredients for us to make the sandwiches here on site: Ziploc bags, bags of sliced bread, turkey slices, cheese slices, brand-new jars of peanut butter and jelly, and mayo, also between 9am-11am, Monday through Saturday. If you’d like to hold a sandwich drive for us and want to make more than 25 sandwiches, please email our Food Services Director, Pauline Auguste, at pauline@chipsonline.org, to coordinate with her.

For more than 50 years, CHiPS has been a lifeline in the Park Slope and Gowanus communities of Brooklyn. What began as a modest effort to help those in need has evolved into a full-service soup kitchen, food pantry, and temporary home for expectant mothers. With a mission to address both food insecurity and homelessness in New York City, CHiPS operates six days a week, providing thousands of meals and vital support to neighbors in need. Thier continued success has been made possible by the unwavering support of volunteers, donors, and community partners who keep CHiPS’ doors open and meals ready.

CHiPS was founded in 1971 by members of St. Francis Xavier Church, drawing inspiration from the Vatican II Council and the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan. It was the first Catholic, non-profit organization in Park Slope to focus on homelessness and hunger relief. Initially, CHiPS operated out of a small storefront, offering free coffee, sandwiches, medical consultations, and legal assistance. As the need grew, so did the organization’s efforts. By 1976, CHiPS began serving nutritious meals all day to anyone who came through its doors.

The organization’s current home at 200 Fourth Avenue has a rich history, with the building itself dating back to the late 1800s. In 2004, the Groundswell Mural Organization commissioned a vibrant mural titled “Voiced Her’d: I Deal, I Dream, I Do,” which was painted by a team of female artists on the building’s south side. This mural symbolizes CHiPS’ deep-rooted commitment to community and empowerment.

Over the years, CHiPS moved several times before finally securing its permanent location, thanks to the generosity of the local community and the instrumental support of Councilman Brad Lander. In the 1990s, Lander helped secure a grant that allowed CHiPS to purchase its current building. Throughout its journey, CHiPS received crucial assistance from organizations like the Park Slope Food Coop, United Way of NYC, FEMA, and various government agencies. The soup kitchen was entirely volunteer-run in the 1980s, feeding 100-150 people daily. Sister Pauline and Sister Mary played vital roles in managing operations and expanding services, including hosting 12-14 homeless individuals each night by transforming the dining room into a sleeping area.

A pivotal moment came in the late 1990s when CHiPS shifted its focus from short-term housing for homeless men to supporting young mothers. With the help of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, CHiPS created the Frances Residence, a private temporary residence named after their founder, Mother Frances Schervier. This program provides shelter and support services to mothers and their young children, helping them build independence.

Today, CHiPS continues to thrive as a vital part of the Brooklyn community, driven by the generosity of volunteers from all walks of life. The organization has maintained its commitment to food justice, working to address the health and income inequalities that disproportionately affect the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community, particularly single mothers. CHiPS strives to break down barriers to healthy living, challenging systemic oppression and promoting food justice for all.

As CHiPS looks to the future, its mission remains as strong as ever: to eliminate food insecurity and homelessness while empowering individuals and families to lead healthier, more independent lives. Through the dedication of its community, CHiPS continues to be a beacon of hope and support for those in need.

Soup Kitchen Hours Are:
Monday through Saturday from 9AM – 10:30AM | Breakfast

Monday through Saturday from 11:30AM – 1PM | Lunch

Monday through Friday from 1PM – 4PM | Bagged Lunch

Food Pantry Hours Are:
Thursdays and Saturdays from 11AM – 1PM

Would Your Company Like To Help?

We are encouraging Companies to set up gift matching services to help raise money for CHiPS. Contact us via email at shanice@chipsonline.org.

Any form of help is much appreciated. Thank you!

Check out our Amazon Registries for specific needs:

Soup Kitchen

Frances Residence

Frances Residence Families

Or donate monetarily below:

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