Interfaith Nutrition Network

The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network)

File:TheINNLogo.png
Formation	1983 (1983)
Type	Non-profit
Headquarters	211 Fulton Street Hempstead, New York
Region served	United States
Membership	14 Soup Kitchens, 3 Emergency Shelters, 1 Long-Term Housing Program, 1 Veteran Housing Program
Main organ	Board of Directors
Website	http://www.the-inn.org

The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Long Island, New York. The INN is the largest organization that fights hunger and homelessness on Long Island. The INN is a volunteer-based organization with volunteers who help coordinate the donations and distributions of food, clothing, and toiletries to those they serve. It is estimated that the INN feeds about 7,500 Long Islanders each day.

History

The INN was founded as a single soup kitchen in Hempstead, NY in 1983 by a small group of volunteers who were concerned about the state of hunger on Long Island. The main orchestrator of the creation of this first soup was Patricia O’Connor, a mother of nine, and Michael Moran, then a Chaplain at Hofstra University. Thirty people responded to Pat and Michael’s call for volunteers to create this first soup kitchen in Hempstead. Jean Kelly was one of the thirty who responded to that initial call and now resides as the Executive Director of The INN. As success of the first soup kitchen spread through word of mouth, other Long Islanders became passionate about opening more soup kitchens in their own towns. From its inception, The INN has relied on interfaith communities and connections and remains unbiased towards religion, race or ethnicity.

In 1984, volunteers realized that hunger wasn’t the only problem they could strive to fix, but homeless too. The INN responded to this problem by opening its first emergency shelter. This year marked a change for The INN going from a few soup kitchens to a comprehensive organization that could aid the hungry and homeless throughout Long Island in a variety of ways.

The INN now operates 14 soup kitchens, 3 emergency shelters and one long-term housing program.

Each year, The INN hosts an INNkeepers’ Ball in order to honor those who have donated their time and resources to The INN and to raise awareness as well as funds for the organization. At the last INNkeepers’ Ball, over $1 million was raised.

Services Offered

Feeding America works to educate the general public and keep them informed about hunger in America. The national office produces educational and research papers that spotlight aspects of hunger and provides information on hunger, poverty and the programs that serve vulnerable Americans. Feeding America's public policy staff works with legislators, conducting research, testifying at hearings and advocating for changes in public attitudes and laws that support Feeding America's network and those the organization serves.

Notable food banks in the network

• Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland, California
• Arkansas Foodbank Network in Little Rock, Arkansas
• Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C.
• Food Bank For New York City in New York City
• Food Bank of Delaware in Delaware
• Food Lifeline in Western Washington
• Good Shepherd Food Bank in Maine
• Greater Boston Food Bank in Boston, Massachusetts
• Greater Chicago Food Depository in Chicago, Illinois
• Houston Food Bank in Houston, Texas
• North Texas Food Bank in Dallas, Texas
• Philabundance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Redwood Empire Food Bank in northern California
• Second Harvest Food Bank in Irvine, California
• Second Harvest North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida
• Tarrant Area Food Bank in Fort Worth, Texas

External links

• Feeding America Online
• Hunger Action Month
• BBB Wise Giving Report on America's Second Harvest
• Feeding America's Hunger Study and Affiliate Reports
• Charity Navigator report