They call those they help their guests, and that’s why The INN is a fitting name for the Interfaith Nutrition Network.
Founded in 1983, The INN aims to provide food and housing for those on Long Island in need, first and foremost, but also helps people find jobs and permanent housing. The not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization came about when Hofstra University chaplain Michael Moran took a group of students to Brooklyn to help feed the homeless – then upon returning home they saw homeless, hungry people on Long Island.
“They were coming back from serving in Brooklyn, and they saw somebody on the street digging in a garbage can for something to eat,” Dana Lopez, The INN’s director of communications and marketing, told the Press. “They realized that they were going to Brooklyn and that was great, but there were people right here on Long Island that needed our help. And they got together and they put a call out for volunteers to help open what would become, at the time, the first soup kitchen in Nassau County.”
It’s been nothing but upward growth for The INN since then, evidenced by the fact that current Executive Director Jean Kelly was one of those original volunteers.
“The INN was founded on the premise of treating everyone with dignity, respect and love with the understanding that we can all be in any situation at any time, as life has caught up through major events,” Lopez added. “Whether it’s individual major events, like losing a job or getting hurt and not being able to work, or large-scale major events like Covid, or hurricanes, all of these things can change your circumstances in an instant. Whether it’s staff or volunteers, all of us at The INN realize that at any point, we can be the person at the other side of the counter.”
All of The INN’s major facilities are in the Village of Hempstead, including their main office, the Mary Brennan INN Soup Kitchen, and the Center for Transformative Change, which provides temporary housing and helps people find jobs and permanent housing.
Anyone in need is welcome at The INN. The INN is also always looking for volunteers at the soup kitchen, or donations.
“We do have to rely on the generosity of individuals or companies or community groups or whoever it is that would like to make donations or support our fundraising events,” Lopez said.
The INN’s annual gala, The INNKeeper’s Ball, will be held on May 8 at the Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove. For more information, visit the-inn.org or call 516-486-8506.
