10 Years at The Genesis Center
By: Deacon Milania Lullo

St. Simon’s ministry has always been rooted in feeding its neighbors. Whether it is by offering amazing fish fry dinners during lent or providing a weekly food pantry in the gymnasium for neighbors-in-need to receive groceries.  St. Simon’s history is to live out the gospel message of reaching outside its doors to nourish the hungriest among us. Twelve years ago, a significant change began to occur in the neighborhood. The food pantry numbers began to increase as more and more families struggled with food insecurity. The unhoused population began to increase as well. The Vestry saw this need increase, so a Saturday morning soup kitchen free-lunch emerged. The Saturday luncheon quickly grew from feeding 40 folks to 70 folks in no time. 
A parishioner and trustee from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation encouraged the Wardens of the Vestry to consider looking for a larger place to purchase because the dining room at St. Simon’s was unable to handle the increasing volume of hungry neighbors needing to be fed. 
So the search began!
Soon a God-given miracle showed up as a broken down, ready to be demolished bar next door to St. Simon’s was for sale. With the Vestry’s unanimous approval, St. Simon’s purchased the dilapidated building. The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation generously gave St. Simon’s the necessary funds needed for a massive restoration of the broken down bar that has now become todays Genesis Center. 
It took two years to complete the restoration project, and we happily opened the doors ten years ago this month. The Genesis Center has become a beacon of hope and a safe place for the hungry to receive meals and groceries. 
The Genesis Center began by providing weekly groceries in its food pantry and by serving a hot lunch once a week ten years ago to a few good people. Today, the Genesis Center now serves hot meals four times a week to approximately 800 people. And it provides groceries and household necessities in its food pantry to appropriately 1500 people a month. There are so many people who have been involved with this amazing outreach ministry. Feeding the hungry is not only noble but it’s necessary to live out God’s gospel message by loving God and by loving neighbor. 
The Genesis Center is grateful to St. Simon’s Wardens and Vestry, and it’s grateful to the Margaret L. Wendt foundation for investing so generously to this important ministry. There are so many people who have invested their time, talents, and tithings to God’s mighty work of feeding the hungry at the Genesis Center. We are grateful for the last ten years, and we look forward to continuing to serve the underserved for many years to come. 
The Genesis Center’s mission is to serve its neighbors a meal— with a side of dignity—- while nourishing their bodies, mind, and spirit. May God continue to bless this good work!