Responding to hunger with hope and celebration
Thank you for letting me send two emails this week. I know it's a lot, but I couldn't stay silent after what we saw on Wednesday. At our Chelsea Park outreach, we served 150 more people than the week before. And that's less than one week into the SNAP benefits cut. People are hungry and scared, and we need to respond.
The question is…how?
Over the next six weeks, City Relief is hosting two really powerful events designed to help our community respond with both compassion and celebration.
City Relief One Day — November 15, Roosevelt Island, NYC
This will be our first-ever City Relief One Day and I couldn't be more excited. We're gathering leaders, volunteers, and advocates to learn together how to love our neighbors with dignity and creativity.
We'll hear from two incredible speakers—Shane Claiborne and Dr. Terence Lester—who have both written influential books and lead frontline organizations in Philadelphia and Atlanta, respectively. Their insights are deeply practical and profoundly spiritual.
City Relief's own Chief People Officer, Lydia Lucas, will join a panel discussion, and yes, I'll have a few things to say too.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the crisis of homelessness and hunger, this is the day to be refueled and re-inspired for the work of compassion. If you're not in the area, we have a live stream option available, too.
City Relief Christmas Concert — December 3, Good Shepherd Church, NYC
When times are hard, celebration might feel out of place. But I'd argue it's never been more essential.
Our annual Christmas Concert will feature stunning performances by Broadway stars Amanda Jane Cooper, Nyla Watson, and CoCo Smith, with David Gungor and The Bobby Lewis Ensemble joining too. It's an evening where our unhoused friends, volunteers, donors, and partners all gather to remember the why behind the work.
As Dostoyevsky said, “Beauty will save the world.” And when we experience beauty together, we're reminded that the story of Christmas is real. God didn't leave us to suffer in silence.
You won't want to miss it.
Yes, things are hard. Our lines are growing, hunger is spreading, and the need is urgent. But moments like these remind me that we've been here before during the pandemic, after hurricanes, through every storm. And every time, compassion and community carried us through.
These two events—one for learning, one for celebrating—are how we come together again.
They're how we remember who we are.
They're how we rebuild hope.
See you there?
With gratitude,
Josiah Haken
City Relief, CEO
