St. Peter’s Kitchen has been serving the Westside of Rochester since 1982, when our program was founded by Father Richard Czerwien, SS.CC.
We started as a once-a-week Saturday soup and sandwich program. Today we serve a well-balanced lunch to 200+ people a day, Monday through Friday. Our guests come from all walks of life; many face issues related to addiction, mental & physical illness, homelessness, and severe poverty. We are a non-referral agency meaning anyone who walks through our door is welcome.
Some food programs require income documentation in order to be served. We feel basic, life-giving services like food and compassion should be open to all people.
For over 40 years, we’ve fostered a strong and connected community, gaining the trust of the people we serve and the community. St. Peter’s is considered a pillar in the neighborhood, recognized for our unique ability as a community center eager to adjust & expand to address the root causes of devastating poverty and burdensome hunger that many of our guests experience. We started on that path when we began St. Peter’s Garden of Love as well as expanding our pantry program to the Westside Farmer’s Market at St. Monica’s Church on Genesee Street.