WHAT WE DO

Community Central

Lifting Up Westchester is launching Community Central to encourage people struggling to meet basic needs like hunger, isolation, and other needs to access support to stabilize their lives, socialize, and build a more secure future for themselves and their families.

Every individual or family has their own unique circumstances that led to their experiencing homelessness.

However, people living in poverty are at the highest risk of homelessness because they are already in precarious financial positions and therefore particularly vulnerable to rent increases, unemployment, or unexpected costs and emergencies like the breakdown of a car or a hospitalization. The absence of a financial safety net also makes them less likely to recover from the personal challenges that every American family faces – divorce, illness, mental health, alcohol and substance misuse, or loss of a loved one.

The Center will offer a variety of support and resources including:

  • Grace’s Community Kitchen for hot, nutritious meals

  • Charlie Bevier Outreach support to help identify needs and navigate accessing resources, including housing

  • Lifting Up Health & Life Skills programs and access to health and wellness resources

  • Access to the new Job Central employment resources

  • Grace's Community Kitchen

    LUW’s Soup Kitchen has been in operation since 1974 and is one of the largest soup kitchens in Westchester County. Located in the parish hall of Grace Church, at 33 Church Street in White Plains, LUW’s Soup Kitchen provides free, nutritious mid-day meals five days a week throughout the year including all holidays (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Nutritionally balanced meals are prepared by a full-time Soup Kitchen Coordinator and two chefs who are responsible for menu creation, food shopping, food safety and preparation.

    Persistent hunger is an important health issue; it affects people’s physical and mental health in serious ways. Addressing hunger is not just about having enough food, it is about having enough nutritious food.

    On weekdays, LUW’s soup kitchen (Grace’s Kitchen) serves mid-day meals to 60-80 individuals as well as their families.

  • Charles Bevier Outreach Support

    Our Outreach Team goes into the community to identify individuals who may be experiencing homelessness but are reluctant to enter a shelter. They seek to build trust and understanding to help these individuals access the support they need; including referrals to medical, mental health, and substance abuse resources, and assistance with documentation to access government benefits, housing programs, and job opportunities.

  • Health, Wellness & Life Skills

    Health & Wellness Support ensures that shelter clients and individuals moving into housing also receive the physical and mental health care, skills, knowledge as well as the social support they need; including workshops on health and wellness topics like nutrition, exercise, and disease prevention.

    Life Skills Training provides adult clients with the basic tools they need to live successfully on their own; including topics like budgeting, personal presentation, and housekeeping.