WHO WE ARE

CHiPS’ Mission: Over 5 Decades Strong

Based in the Park Slope/Gowanus community of Brooklyn, the mission of CHiPS is two fold: to eliminate food insecurity and homelessness in New York City.

A Brief Introduction

Founded in 1971 to offer sustenance to our community, CHiPS is now a full-service soup kitchen and food pantry open six days a week, as well as a home for expectant single mothers. For over fifty years, we’ve served as a beacon of hope to thousands of our friends and neighbors in need—and we’ve been able to succeed thanks to people like you. Our friends, supporters, volunteers help ensure we keep the doors open, the meals hot, and the support ready for years to come.

Our History

CHiPS was founded in 1971 by members of the St. Francis Xavier Church, who were inspired by the spirit of the Vatican II Council and the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan. It was the first Catholic, non-profit agency for those experiencing homeless and food insecurity in Park Slope. In the beginning, CHiPS offered free coffee, sandwiches, medical consultations, and legal assistance every evening out of a small storefront. In 1976, we began all-day operations, serving healthy, nutritious meals to all who came to the door.

The CHiPS building was built in the late 1800's. In 2004, the Groundswell Mural Organization commissioned a mural on the building's south side. "Voiced Her'd: I Deal, I Dream, I Do" was painted by a team of female artists.

The CHiPS building was built in the late 1800’s. In 2004, the Groundswell Mural Organization commissioned a mural on the building’s south side. “Voiced Her’d: I Deal, I Dream, I Do” was painted by a team of female artists.

CHiPS moved several times before landing at our current home at 200 Fourth Avenue. Everything in the facility was donated by the community. The Park Slope Food Coop became an early and truly important ally donating food regularly. CHiPS also began applying for and receiving support and grants from groups including the Food Bank, United Way of NYC, and FEMA and from the Federal, State and City government.

Through the 1980s our soup kitchen was staffed entirely by volunteers. Sister Mary arrived in 1983, joining Sister Pauline, who had managed operations for several years. By then, the soup kitchen was feeding upwards of 100-150 people every day. CHiPS joined the Partnership for the Homeless and also began hosting 12-14 homeless individuals each night, using cots to transform the dining room into a comfortable place for our guests to sleep.

CHiPS eventually purchased our current building in the 1990’s with generous support from local churches, synagogues, businesses, schools, friends, religious brothers and sisters, and Councilman Brad Lander, who was instrumental in obtaining the grant that allowed us to purchase our current home. In the late 1990’s, the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor helped create the Frances Residence. Named after their founder, Mother Frances Schervier, the Frances Residence is a private temporary residence program for mothers and their infants and toddlers in need of shelter and support services. This marked a shift from short-term housing for homeless men to our current focus of facilitating independence in young women.

Today, CHiPS still values and relies on the support of our volunteers from different walks of life, from the neighborhood and even those from afar.

With a food justice focus, we address symptoms of health and income inequality facing the Brooklyn community and single mothers by breaking down barriers to healthy living for BIPOC in order to dismantle systemic oppression.

What We Do

The CHiPS Soup Kitchen

Our soup kitchen and food pantry serves 400+ meals daily (~300 for lunch, ~100 for breakfast) due to the asylum seeker crisis. Multiple shelters have popped up in our area and we are seeing record numbers visiting CHiPS. This time last year we were serving 200 meals per day. That number has skyrocketed to 400+ six days a week. We are staffed by a group of dedicated volunteers who come together to ensure our neighbors have a place to turn for delicious, healthy meals.

CHiPS offers a friendly environment, where we are committed to making our guests feel at home. We know many of their names, favorite meals, and birthdays. Guests are not asked to provide identification or to participate in religious activities; our kitchen serves the hungry regardless of immigration status or religious beliefs.

When it comes to food, CHiPS meals are some of the healthiest around.  Nearly 80% of the food we prepare is donated by businesses such as Trader Joes, ReThink, and City Harvest, which means that it’s fresh and organic. Restaurants nearby often donate a variety of meals, so guests enjoy items like fresh-baked goods to barbeque.

We now have a professional chef on staff to ensure that our guests can continue to enjoy fresh and delicious food every day. 

In 2020, we adapted our dine-in soup kitchen to a To Go model food distribution, allowing guests to grab delicious food on the go. We currently serve as many as 400 meals daily during our lunch services. Each guest at our To Go services receives a bag brimming with nourishment. Bags contain hot meals, a snack, sandwich and water. In addition to lunch services, we have restarted our breakfast program. Monday through Friday, from 9-10:30am, guests can pick up bagels, eggs, cereal, pastries and coffee to help fuel their day. On Thursdays and Saturdays, CHiPS distributes pantry bags filled with fresh produce and non-perishable items, which helps our guests to get through the weekend.

The Frances Residence 

Was founded by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and named after their founder Mother Frances Schervier. Thanks to this shelter at CHIPS, many mothers are now equipped with the tools to handle anything that comes their way.  The program provides transitional homes for prenatal and postpartum women and their infants. Mothers can stay up to twelve months while they are working toward self-reliance and the acquisition of permanent housing.

Program: Our Frances Residence offers fully furnished studio apartments for expecting or single mothers in need of emergency temporary housing. Once in our care, mothers receive pre-and post-natal support services and assistance in their search for work and permanent housing for up to one year. The residence program helps mothers become self-sufficient by focusing on training in maternal/child health, career development, and ongoing life skills. The Frances Residence coordinates with neighborhood social service agencies to secure permanent affordable housing and explore opportunities for employment.

Accommodation: The Residence offers furnished studio apartments, each with its own kitchen and bathroom and access to our community room. Care is provided around the clock for the residents. 

Referrals: Women are referred from neighborhood agencies. Referrals can be made by calling (718) 855-8861. Women must meet the following criteria:

  • a single homeless mother in her last trimester of pregnancy OR
  • a single homeless postpartum mother with her newborn (up to three weeks old).
  • All residents must be at least 18 years of age, drug and alcohol free, and able to live and work in harmony with staff and other residents. Each woman must agree to abide by the policies and rules of the Francis Residence program.

Funding: Donations, grants, and in-kind contributions comprise the largest support for the program.