Park Slope Pop-Up Takes Coronavirus Food Donations

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — A busy soup kitchen in Park Slope is temporarily closed to protect its volunteers during the new coronavirus outbreak, but that doesn't mean it won't feed the hungry.

CHiPs is now a one-stop pop-up for anyone looking to donate food or find a much-needed meal, said Denise Scaravella, the soup kitchen's executive director.

At least 100 people a day still receive food from the Fourth Avenue soup kitchen and shelter, she said.

"It's a community effort," she said. "It’s not a CHiPS thing."

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Scaravella said she shut down the kitchen on March 20 with a small sense of relief knowing her volunteers and the hungry alike faced less risk from spreading coronavirus. She already switched up the kitchen's sit-down meals to an all to-go arrangement back two weeks ago, before restaurant and bar closures and a statewide "stay-at-home" order.

The closure will be until at least April 1, according to the CHiPS website.

But as Scaravella gave away the last bit of fresh food at the kitchen she put out a call for food donations. Her plan: take in any bags of food, pre-made meals like sandwiches and lasagna and any other food stuffs people looked to donate to help feed the hungry.

"The first day somebody came in with biscuits, butter and jam. Somebody came up with soup," she said. "It's those kinds of things. It's any neighbor who wants to help."

The impromptu pop-up has received bags and bags of food since then and 200 meals from Rethink Food NYC, which donates and distributes unused food, Scaravella said. She said anything is welcome, including toiletries, so long as they're individually bagged.

"It’s just to address an immediate concern," she said.

Scaravella and maybe a volunteer or two will be at the kitchen on Fourth Avenue and Sackett Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day, she said.

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