Help Open Ministry Feed Poughkeepsie's Hungry

✝️ Open Ministry Inc. — Feeding the Forgotten in Poughkeepsie

A Mission of Faith, Love, and Urgent Action

Led by Rev. Marco Candelaria, Registered Minister – State of New York

In the heart of Poughkeepsie, where poverty too often robs children of food, safety, and hope, we at Open Ministry Inc. are taking a stand — not with words, but with action.

We are building a soup kitchen for the forgotten. The hungry. The families caught in silence. The kids who pretend they’re not hungry so their siblings can eat.

I’m Rev. Marco Candelaria, a registered minister, and for years, we’ve served this community through outreach, counseling, prayer, and food. We’ve done it on faith, with very little — and with the help of a few monthly donors who’ve believed in the mission.

Now, we’re expanding. We’re opening a permanent space to feed children and families in crisis — a real kitchen, a real table, and real hope. But we need your help to finish what we’ve started.

The Kitchen Is Waiting — But Empty

The location is ready. Thanks to our faithful donors, the rent is covered.

But right now the space has:

❌ No working ovens

❌ No refrigerator

❌ No stove

❌ No equipment to prepare food safely

❌ No team to serve consistently

This kitchen could be open tomorrow — if we had the funding to equip it.

Our Goal: $30,000 to Feed the Forgotten

We’re asking for $30,000 — not for overhead, not for fancy branding — but to feed children and families who are suffering quietly every day.

Your gift will go toward:

✅ Commercial ovens, stoves, and refrigerators

✅ Food-prep stations and safety equipment

✅ Hiring a small team to cook and serve

✅ Restoring dignity to people who have gone too long without

This is a one-time launch fund. Once we're running, our monthly donors will sustain the operation.

❤️ Why It Matters — Now

This isn’t just about food. It’s about love in action.

When a child receives a warm meal — not from a shelter line, but from a place of care — they begin to believe again. They see that someone is fighting for them. That someone sees them. That someone still cares.

We may not be able to save the whole world, but we can make sure that the children of Poughkeepsie are fed, seen, and loved — one plate at a time.

How You Can Help

$25 feeds a group of kids for a day

$100 helps us buy fresh groceries

$500 supports a week of meals

$1,000 gets us closer to installing a real kitchen

If you can’t give, please share this message. Someone in your circle may be the angel we’ve been praying for.

✝️ A Mission Rooted in Service

This soup kitchen is part of a greater calling — to serve the lost, the hungry, and the invisible with compassion, dignity, and love.

There’s no judgment here. No shame. Just open doors and warm meals.

With every bite, we offer something greater than food: hope.

Thank you for standing with us.

In faith and urgency,

Rev. Marco Candelaria

Registered Minister, State of New York

Founder, Open Ministry Inc.