Every Wednesday night, we bus kids in from Elmira and Elmira Heights for a family-style hot meal, Bible teaching, and a community that shows up for them — week after week, year after year.
Matthew 25:35 — "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." This ministry takes that literally.
Every Wednesday night, vans and drivers go into Elmira and Elmira Heights to pick up kids living in poverty and bring them to Horseheads for a full, family-style hot meal and Bible teaching. When they leave, they go home fed — in more ways than one.
Throughout the year, kids also receive backpacks, school supplies, clothing, and shoes. Every December, we throw a Christmas party where every child gets gifts, socks, and underwear.
Meals are made possible in partnership with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
"12+ years of consistent, weekly investment shows Matthew 25 isn't a one-time program — it's a durable pipeline of care for the county's most vulnerable kids."
Wednesday nights are the heartbeat, but Matthew 25 shows up for kids in every season.
Backpacks, school supplies, clothing, and shoes distributed to kids before the school year starts.
Kids are clothed throughout the year — not just at a single event, but as needs come up week to week.
Every child goes home with gifts, socks, and underwear. A Christmas they might not otherwise have.
Matthew 25 runs on volunteers — drivers, kitchen prep, table hosts, teachers. If you have a few hours on Wednesday evenings, there's a spot for you.