God's Love We Deliver facts for kids
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| Formation | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ganga Stone |
| Founded at | West-Park Presbyterian Church |
| Purpose | Prepare and deliver meals to ill New York City residents |
| Headquarters | 166 Avenue of the Americas Manhattan, New York City |
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Region served
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New York City |
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President & CEO
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Terrence Meck |
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Budget
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$23 million (2021) |
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Volunteers
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23,000 annually |
God's Love We Deliver (also known as GLWD) is a charity in New York City that helps people who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves. Volunteers prepare and deliver healthy, specially designed meals right to their homes.
Even though its name mentions God, the organization is non-sectarian, which means it helps people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Since it started in 1985, GLWD has delivered over 35 million meals. Every year, it helps more than 14,700 people across New York City.
Contents
How It All Started
The idea for God's Love We Deliver began with a simple act of kindness. In 1985, a hospice worker named Ganga Stone was visiting a man who was very ill with AIDS. A hospice worker is someone who cares for people near the end of their lives. Ganga realized how hard it was for him to get food and cook.
She and her roommate, Jane Best, decided to help. They started by delivering a few meals each day on their bicycles. The idea quickly grew as more people needed help and more volunteers wanted to join.
Growing to Help More People
By 1993, the small bicycle delivery service had grown into a large operation. GLWD was serving two meals a day to 550 clients. The group needed a bigger kitchen to keep up with the demand.
In 1995, GLWD moved into its own building on Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. This was a huge step, as they had been renting kitchen space before. As the years went on, the organization grew even more. In 2015, the building was renovated to make it bigger and better.
Originally, GLWD was created to help people with AIDS. But in 2001, the organization expanded its mission. It began serving people with many other kinds of serious illnesses.
What GLWD Does Today
Today, God's Love We Deliver is a major force for good in New York City. It delivers more than 15,200 meals every single weekday. These meals go to the clients and also to their caregivers and children.
A State-of-the-Art Kitchen
The GLWD building has a huge, modern kitchen that is almost 10,000 square feet. Here, chefs and volunteers cook delicious and healthy food. Nutritionists work with the team to create special meal plans for each person. These plans are tailored to help with over 200 different medical conditions.
Volunteers Make It Happen
Volunteers are the heart of God's Love We Deliver. Every year, thousands of people give their time to chop vegetables, pack meals, and make deliveries. Many local businesses and school groups also come to help. In 2023 alone, GLWD hosted over 670 volunteer groups.
See also
- Citymeals-on-Wheels
- City Harvest
- Food Bank For New York City
