On a quiet Saturday morning, the basement of All Saints Episcopal Church in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York, transforms into a welcoming dining space. For approximately 15 years, the church has hosted a weekly "Community Meal," evolving from handing out sandwiches at the door to offering complete meals to those in need.
As a partner in this initiative, Tzu Chi provides a plant-based main course once a month. On July 25, 2026, volunteers prepared 120 Asian-inspired meals at the nearby Tzu Chi Center before bringing them to the church. There, church volunteers supplemented the main dishes with fresh salads, bread, snacks, fruit, and beverages to create a balanced offering.
Unlike standard food distribution lines, the church provides a sit-down experience. Diners take a seat while volunteers bring the food directly to their tables, treating each individual with the respect of a restaurant patron. Currently, the program serves about 120 people each week; roughly 80 individuals opt to take their meals to go, while the remaining 30 enjoy their meal in the dining hall.
LEFT: A church volunteer hands a vegetarian meal provided by Tzu Chi to a community member at the entrance. RIGHT: All Saints Episcopal Church in Manhattan partners with Tzu Chi for community meal services. | Photos: Hai-Mei Men
We might be one of the few service locations on the Upper East Side providing meals in this manner. Today Tzu Chi provided a very healthy vegetarian meal, and several of our vegetarian clients were especially happy. — Robin Rule, Community Meal Coordinator
Nutrition and teamwork
The preparation begins early in the morning as volunteers wash vegetables, chop ingredients, and cook fried rice and baked dishes. Echo Xu (徐嘉懋), who has participated in food service for nearly two decades, carefully plans each menu. She prioritizes nutritional balance, ensuring the meals contain adequate protein, carbohydrates, and fresh produce while minimizing food waste.
We hope every meal is not only healthy and nutritious but also looks appetizing and inviting. When leading volunteers, I hope everyone is not just here to get the work done, but also to learn teamwork and feel empowered to propose new ideas. — Echo Xu, Volunteer
LEFT: Volunteers work together in the church basement to prepare the vegetarian main courses. RIGHT: Volunteers prepare plant-based eggs for the main dishes. | Photos: Hai-Mei Men
Annie Chu (朱苔禎) noted that the collaboration with All Saints Episcopal Church began around 2019. The monthly effort relies entirely on community dedication.
This project has continued thanks to the hands of every volunteer and their willingness to help others. — Annie Chu, Volunteer
LEFT: The boxed plant-based main courses are neatly arranged and ready for distribution. RIGHT: Meals include a main course, salad, fruit, bread, and a drink for balanced nutrition. | Photos: Hai-Mei Men
Finding strength in service
The kitchen is frequently filled with young professionals who choose to spend their weekends giving back. Xuanqi Lu (陸宣琪) joined the meal preparation for the first time after being invited by a friend. Having lived in New York for over ten years, she wanted to support her city directly.
I have always wanted to participate in this kind of charitable activity to help those in need. When helping others, I feel full of strength. — Xuanqi Lu, Volunteer
Summer Cao (曹夏天) was introduced to the program five years ago and now regularly invites her own peers to join. Ya Sun (孫涯), who started by helping with food distributions in Chinatown, finds the Saturday cooking sessions to be a way to recharge after a busy work week. Preparing 120 meals in a few hours requires seamless coordination in chopping, cooking, and packing.
Completing something together that truly helps others makes me feel like I've done something very valuable. — Ya Sun, Volunteer
LEFT: A volunteer portions out the vegetable salad. RIGHT: Church volunteers prepare bread for the day's community meal service. | Photos: Hai-Mei Men
Shared goals beyond beliefs
Working side by side, volunteers from different religious backgrounds find common ground in their service. George Winters, a church volunteer responsible for preparing bread, butter, coffee, and fresh salads, describes the meals as "love served on a plate." Over the past year and a half, he has valued the friendship built with the visiting teams.
Tzu Chi and our shared goal is to ensure hungry people have food to eat. — George Winters, Church Volunteer
Wesley Nielsen Dick, a lifelong resident of the neighborhood and church volunteer, shared that the connections made are just as important as the food itself.
I might serve 80 people a day, and I get to see 80 different faces and 80 different smiles. — Wesley Nielsen Dick, Church Volunteer
Sitting across one another on the same street, Tzu Chi Center and All Saints Episcopal Church continue to bridge their communities. Through monthly meal services and shared activities like tree-planting in the center's garden, this interfaith partnership demonstrates how a simple, hot meal can foster deep community bonds and provide vital support to those facing difficult times.
Written by Feng-Yu Ku (顧楓瑜)
