STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — At exactly 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, the doors of Faith United Methodist Church at 221 Heberton Avenue in Port Richmond swung open, and the flow began—five at a time—into a community room transformed into a market-style bazaar of food and clothing. This is the weekly food pantry, and its director, Lorna Wilson, stood at the entrance, guiding the crowd with calm authority.
“You can start here. It’s five at a time,” she said, as a woman shook a yellow courtesy bag, puffing it up with air in preparation.
A boy, a bag, and a pair of Nikes
A boy, around 10 years old, stepped forward wearing oversized sneakers. His mother moved along the food and grocery line, which began with adult diapers and canned goods, then worked itself toward a pile of overripe pears, sacks of Brussels sprouts and a freezer stocked with frozen hams and turkeys.
But the boy’s attention was fixed on a row of shoes, neatly lined up like soldiers on the steps of a small stage. He spotted a pair of gently worn yellow and navy Nikes and tucked them into his bag.
Behind him, an elderly man with a pushcart filled with day-old bread and a jumbo can of Chock Full o’ Nuts coffee whistled as he picked up a pair of purple sneakers. Within minutes, the shoe table was noticeably lighter.
The rhythm of the room
Volunteers stood behind a table, handing out juice boxes and supplies. The room buzzed with soft chatter and the gentle clatter of metal carts, as arms reached and mothers maneuvered through the crowd with their children.
“No ID necessary,” Wilson called out. “How many people in your family?”
At the “Amazon Table,” as Wilson calls it—stocked by the Muslim Sisters of Staten Island with premium supplies like soaps, shampoos and cleaning products—the boy’s mother followed, stylish in torn jeans, a red-and-white outfit, and an over-the-shoulder tote. They slipped into the growing scrum, then retreated to a quiet corner to organize their haul.
A pantry with deep roots
The Faith United Methodist Church pantry has served Port Richmond for more than 50 years. It began with Boy Scout leader William Morris Jr., who saw neighbors in need and began distributing food. His son, William Morris III, later took over.
Around the time of the pandemic, Wilson stepped in, expanding the pantry’s reach through partnerships and donations from Project Hospitality, the Richmond County Foundation, Dr Theodora Atlas Foundation, the Mannix Family’s ShopRite supermarkets and, more recently, the Muslim Sisters of Staten Island.
Girl Scouts in action
On this particular Saturday, members of Girl Scout Troop 5001 brought a group of girls from St. Joseph Hill Academy and Notre Dame Academy—many of whom have been in the troop since Pre-K.
“I try to find different things for them to do—things that matter,” said troop leader Michelle Pizzo. “If they want to help, they can. And they always show up.”
Now sophomores, several of the girls earned their Silver Award by organizing a clothing donation drive. With help from Rev. Terry Troia of Project Hospitality, they connected with the pantry at Faith United Methodist Church to deliver the collected items. To encourage continued giving, Pizzo and fellow troop leaders are setting up donation boxes at their respective churches.
The troop regularly participates in service projects, including volunteering at food pantries and maintaining seasonal flower arrangements at Angel Circle.
A snapshot of Saturday
Inside the Faith United room, the crowd was diverse—a mix of races, ethnicities and ages. Some carried carts, others bags, and some just their hands. Murmurs filled the air in a mix of languages.
At the clothing table, the boy’s mother held up sweatshirts, inspecting colors and sizes. She kept a watchful eye on her son, signaling with two fingers pointed into her eyes to stay close. He stood quietly nearby, hands in his pockets, no phone, just observing.
By 12:43, the practical shoe inventory was depleted. The boy found a book on making paper airplanes and tucked it into his bag. His mother crouched down, packing up winter jackets. He helped, folding and organizing.
The pantry buzzed with energy, rising to the volume of an auction. Suddenly the noise bubbled over and a scuffle broke out—quick to erupt, quicker to vanish. Meanwhile, the boy and his mom kept to the sidelines, agreeing on a Jets sweatshirt for him and boots for her. Their yellow bag swelled, filled to the brim.
By 12:54, even a pair of rhinestone-studded pumps were gone. At the baked goods table a woman picked over what was left. The boy watched. His mother called him over and the pair slipped out through a side door.
At 1:01, the room had been picked fairly clean. On the food table, the pear pile persisted, and there were only a few takers on the Brussels sprouts.
How to help
Wilson runs the pantry with just a few church members. Those from outside organizations provide the bulk of volunteers. Wilson says donations are welcome. Anyone can call or text her at 347-539-6951. Drop-off is daily between 1 and 2 p.m. at the 221 Heberton door (glass door near the office entrance).
What’s needed:
Gently used clothing, coats, shoes and toys
Non-perishable food
Gift cards and cash/check donations
Monetary donations go toward purchasing meat and other goods at Ranchers Best in Mariners Harbor—mostly fresh produce, hams and chickens. Wilson has a special request for those who wish to contribute to the cause: “We could use a commercial refrigerator to preserve produce and proteins.”
The pantry is open every Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., or until supplies run out. Midweek giveaways may be added if needed.
Support comes from Girl Scout troops, Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Indian Nurses of Staten Island, The Harriet Tubman Purple Hat Society and the National Council of Negro Women, just to name a few. Hundreds of students from around the borough pitch in, as do visiting groups from around the country.
“They’re always willing to give back,” Wilson said.
Despite its impact, the church faces financial hardship.
“You’d think we’re a rich church, but we’re not,” Wilson said. “We struggle to pay our $24,000 annual insurance and high utility bills.”
To help with efforts, the pantry will host “An Evening of Jazz” on Nov. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring the Curtis High School Jazz Band and a lead jazz vocalist. The event will raise funds for pantry operations and church expenses.
Tickets are $50 pre-sale admission and $55 at the door. Food is included and specialty drinks are for sale. For interest in attending, contact Wilson’s helpers at 917-992-6790 or 347-6768-8423.
Looking ahead
Lorna Wilson is in the process of establishing a nonprofit called Hunger and Lifestyle, reviving a name originally chosen by pantry founders William Morris Jr. and his wife. The goal is to separate the pantry’s operations from the church.
“We’re separating the pantry from the church so donors who don’t give to religious institutions can still support us,” Wilson explained.
She added, “I’ve impacted a lot of lives. Whether they came humbly or fought their way through, they got what they needed.”
Politics and local restaurants are also part of the pantry’s evolving story. Wilson has partnered with Rethink Food, a nonprofit founded by former chef Matt Jozwiak, which turns surplus food from restaurants and grocery stores into nutritious, culturally appropriate meals—free to those in need.
Through its Rethink Certified Program and commissary kitchen, the organization distributes thousands of meals weekly, including through Staten Island partners like Lebanese Eatery in Port Richmond. Owner Tarek Wazzan has been a steady presence, delivering two hot meal options each time to ensure recipients receive food that’s both nourishing and familiar.
On Friday, Aug. 8, during a special pantry session, Assemblyman Charles Fall had visited to observe one of the distributions. He’s been instrumental in securing funding for pop-up pantries and organizing food drives in collaboration with local nonprofits.
“Every family on Staten Island deserves the basic right to a nutritious meal,” Fall told a group of volunteers who had traveled from the Washington, D.C. area.
He added, “It’s really something to see this come together. But credit goes to Rethink Food and its executive director, Matt Jozwiak—he’s the one who made this possible when we finally connected a few years ago. Food insecurity is real in our community, and this program delivers hot meals while supporting local businesses at the same time. It’s a win-win.”
Fall noted that Lebanese Eatery has been a consistent partner for over a year and a half. “They’ve been incredibly helpful,” he said. “In the past, other restaurants have also pitched in. As time goes on, we look at which businesses have the capacity to help—and when it works, it really works.”
Earlier this month, Rethink had named Wilson the Community Ambassador for Staten Island.