The Kitchen Crew
Each month House of Mercy in Rochester, N.Y., provides more than four thousand families with food and 2,000 cooked meals for people in need. On any given night, the House of Mercy kitchen staff, led by Shack and Junebug, serves 90-100 individuals a hot meal. “Before Shack got here,” says Junebug “they were all skinny, now they actually have weight on them.”
Fall 2021 + ongoing
Shac and Junebug take a smoke break before serving dinner at the House of Mercy in Rochester, N.Y., on November 17, 2021. “Somedays we’re so busy we get out here to take out break and then were right on back inside” says Junebug. “Other days we’re out here one two times.”
Volunteers lay out 45 to-go containers to be filled with hot meals at the House of Mercy in Rochester, N.Y. on September 30, 2021. To-go meals are passed out at the front door to individuals who lost privileges to eat inside the House of Mercy from poor behavior.
Junebug and volunteer Shelly Lemen make jokes with each other while discussing sports. Shelly and her husband Mark began volunteering at the House of Mercy after their daughter. They have volunteered in the kitchen a couple times since. The House of Mercy relies heavily on volunteers and is able to operate 24/7 because of them.
Shac makes last minute to-go meals with Sister Rita Lewis for the people who arrived to the doors late, on November 25, 2021.
Volunteer Mildred Bartlett reads in her bible and eats a bread from the kitchen at the House of Mercy in Rochester, N.Y. on September 30, 2021.
Junebug waits to hand out a plate of food to House of Mercy residents in Rochester, N.Y., on November 10, 2021. The House of Mercy serves 90-100 hot meals a night.
The House of Mercy kitchen cooked 13-15 turkeys on Thanksgiving for their residents and had little leftover. The served turkey, beans, collard greens, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a biscuit.
House of Mercy volunteers and residents dance to the DJ playing music after the Thanksgiving Day meal, on November 25, 2021.
Shac takes off his apron after finishing the evenings cleaning tasks before heading home, on November 25, 2021.