Joy Volunteers at New York Rescue Mission

SOUPER DAYS, SOUPY NIGHTS AT ‘AMERICA’S FIRST RESCUE MISSION’

Dr Joy kicks hole in SOUPer Bowl Week; Gastineau, Drexler push on, feeding hundreds

February 7, 2010 - New York, NY - Actually, Dr. Joy Browne served quite a few homeless folks, too, despite kicking a hole in the kick-off of an eventful week at the New York City Rescue Mission in Lower Manhattan.

It started with a kick-off Charlie Brown could have seen coming: Dr. Joy Browne, WOR radio’s tenacious shrink-cum-talk-show-host, lining up behind a can’t-miss giant inflatable football in the Mission’s chapel. Packing a Tom Dempsey-esque wallop, Browne kicked the ‘official’ SOUPer Bowl Week kickoff football a total of one yard skyward before it fell—airless, lifeless—at her self-incriminating sharp-toed shoes. After howls of laughter subsided, SOUPer Bowl Week was proclaimed by veteran Mission volunteer Joe Scallan, filling in for Mission-supporter Mike Bloomberg. Then Browne, Scallan, and representatives of first-night sponsor Original Soup Man served hundreds of homeless men and women the company’s Italian wedding soup in a flash–due certainly to the yummy soup, though don’t discount the fear of a kick in the pants from Dr Joy if they tarried. The icing on the soup, though, was an appearance by Mission faves Mark & Jo Ann Gatineau midway thru the evening, which capped a great Jetsy start.

Tuesday night— minus said SOUPer Bowl Week football— was a calmer affair with sponsoring chef Katie Lee returning with stew, which was served by Mission friends Madelyn Wils and Fabiola Beracasa. Lee, Beracasa and Wils were a triple threat of charm, with Wils’ son Sean bringing the handsome in dishing out sugar for hot coffee thruout the dinner.

Wednesday will be remembered as a Giant day in Mission history, with Rich Seubert of the New York Giants blessing so many with bowls of soup from NYCRM long-time great neighbor David Bouley. Afterward, Seubert and the Giants presented the Mission’s hard-working residents with the bluest Giants field coats we’ve ever seen. Thanks, Big Blue and Big Bouley.

Thursday was a reunion of sorts with the return of globetrotting chef-extraordinaire Vikas Khanna, who brought a hearty lentil/veggie/coconut soup and Mission pal Adam Cassidy, too. A first time volunteer that night was Deb Gordon of CBS radio, who had brought the story of SOUPer Bowl Week to her listeners earlier in the week and couldn’t resist seeing first-hand – and serving up – the hot soup and warm grace.

Friday was supposed to be a slow-down adenoma, but may have been the most exciting day of all: chef Curtis Stone of The Apprentice and NBA superstar Clyde Drexler served up lentil soup from Forlini’s of Little Italy and signed a million autographs before heading out, though promised to return with a soup or stew of their own. Both gentlemen oozed warmth and goodwill, so I don’t doubt for a minute that they’ll bring a great one.

Saturday was a day of Sabbath rest as it should be and, well, right now—Super Bowl Sunday—my kids are downstairs in the Mission chapel with my best friends in the world enjoying the Super Bowl, which may have borrowed their name from us. Hmm. Anyway, after a hearty meal of friend chicken and still yummy leftover soup enjoyed by the Mission’s residents and guests everyone-- including the Little clan-- is enjoying a plethora of game-day snacks, and I’m missing out. But giant football–repaired by the author’s wife–is back. Joy Browne is nowhere in sight so it’s safe to return to the chapel where giant football, TV screen and grace await!

###