Dear Friends,
In 1976, four young residents of Camden were inspired to serve people experiencing food insecurity. They began serving soup and sandwiches through a Camden church to neighbors in need. By our 25th anniversary, Cathedral Kitchen was serving more than 7,000 meals a month. Today, we are the largest emergency meal provider in Southern New Jersey. We serve over 28,000 meals each month, distribute free groceries and personal care products, provide comprehensive case management and access to healthcare, benefits, housing services, and social supports, offer a free Culinary Arts Training program, and operate a social enterprise that provides jobs to Camden residents.
This June, we celebrate our 50th year of service. Though much has changed, the core values instilled by our founders remain: dignity, love, respect, and solidarity. These values, along with the unwavering support of thousands of volunteers and partners, have carried us through challenging times—recessions, global conflict, and a pandemic. Our commitment to Camden has never wavered, and there is still much work ahead as our community faces rising costs for basic needs and increasing strain on vital safety net programs.
That commitment was especially evident this past January, when Cathedral Kitchen was proud to serve as an emergency warming center during an extreme cold snap. We partnered with Rowan University, Rutgers Camden Joint Board of Governors, and Camden County Board of Commissioners to provide a safe place for our neighbors. Over two weeks, 133 individuals stayed with us—20% of whom were over the age of 60. In addition to shelter, we distributed 435 essential items such as blankets, clothing, socks, and personal hygiene products. While we are glad the cold is behind us, we are proud to have stepped up in this meaningful way for our community.
Our gratitude for our volunteers, service partners, and funders is immeasurable. Because of you, Cathedral Kitchen has been a beacon of hope for 50 years. In 2026, it’s time to celebrate.
Throughout this year, we will host special events and volunteer opportunities to honor this milestone, reflect on all we have accomplished together, and look ahead to an inspiring future. We hope you will join us.
The Campbell’s Company has already been working behind the scenes to design our newly unveiled 50th anniversary logo. The design features a refreshed font while retaining our signature blue. A path element reflects our mission to help create a path toward stability and opportunity, and the mosaic—drawn from the mosaic on our building—represents the many pieces that come together to make Cathedral Kitchen what it is today: our guests, students, volunteers, staff, donors, and partners.
For all that is Cathedral Kitchen, we thank you.
Carrie Kitchen-Santiago
CEO/President
