{"id":216,"date":"2022-07-13T12:59:37","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T12:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the-inn.org\/?page_id=216"},"modified":"2023-05-24T07:26:04","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T11:26:04","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/the-inn.org\/about-us\/frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is The INN?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

As a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization, The INN provides a broad variety of essential services to assist those challenged by hunger, homelessness and profound poverty. We partner with those in need in a dignified and respectful manner to help them achieve self-sufficiency.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen was The INN started?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

The INN was founded in 1983 as a single soup kitchen run by a small group of concerned volunteers.\u00a0 Working at a church in Hempstead, New York, the volunteers discovered that not only were there large numbers of hungry people on Long Island, but that individuals working together could make a difference in their lives.The volunteers began to form a network of soup kitchens to feed hungry Long Islanders. Soon after the Hempstead soup kitchen began operations, others opened in Long Beach and Central Islip. The INN opened its first emergency shelter in 1984. The INN began to plan and institute a series of wide-ranging programs to help people from all over Long Island who were plagued by hunger and homelessness. Today, The INN operates the Mary Brennan INN, the largest soup kitchen on Long Island, as well as the Center for Transformative Change, a resource center and free clothing and housewares boutique, as well as emergency and long-term housing shelters.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWho started The INN?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

The INN was started by Pat O\u2019Connor, a mother of nine, and Michael Moran, then a Chaplain at Hofstra University, who had been taking student volunteers to work at a soup kitchen in Brooklyn.\u00a0 Moran felt that there was a need for a soup kitchen closer to home. So he advertised for volunteers, 30 people responded, among them was Jean Kelly, an executive at a Long Island advertising agency. Jean Kelly is currently the Executive Director of The INN.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The largest soup kitchen on Long Island, emergency shelters, long-term housing, a resource center and clothing boutique are the types of services we offer.\u00a0 For detailed descriptions of each service click the Services tab on our homepage.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow many meals does The INN offer?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Since 1983, The INN has served over 15 million meals in Long Island communities. Currently, The INN helps provide over 200,000 meals annually to both children and adults.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Guests usually walk through a serving line similar to that of a cafeteria.\u00a0 However, guests are also given the option to take a bagged lunch.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow many people do you house at your shelters?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

The INN\u2019s emergency shelters (one family shelter and one shelter for homeless men) provide emergency housing to approximately 1,000 homeless individuals annually. That is an average of 70 people and up to 20 families nightly.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow do people in need find out about The INN\u2019s services?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

People who need our services find out about us from several sources (government, religious and community organizations) and we receive referrals from other agencies and even from our guests.\u00a0 Everyone can help us to spread the word about our work\u2026tell people about The INN and what we do.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Food, clothing, and personal care are always welcome. To help ensure that our facilities continue to be maintained in the manner necessary to adequately serve our guests, you can also help by sending a monetary donation to The INN. Take a look at the\u00a0Donate Funds<\/a><\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0How You Can Help<\/a>\u00a0sections of our site to find more detailed information regarding this issue.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWho supplies the donations?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

We depend on support from individuals, schools, religious organizations, community groups, businesses and foundations. The INN also receives local, county, state and federal funding.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhere does The INN get its financial support from?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

The INN has the support of generous individuals, religious, educational groups, community groups, corporations and foundations who have provided critical funding to help meet the growing needs of poverty-stricken Long Islanders.\u00a0 The INN also receives local, county, state and federal funding.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Please visit our\u00a0Donate Funds page<\/a>. There you will be able to donate online along with instructions and other ways to get your donation to us.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Yes. The INN is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent of the law.  For more information regarding this issue, please visit www.irs.gov\/charities<\/a>.  There you will find a detailed description of exemption requirements for 501(c)(3) organizations and how you can get a tax deduction for your donation. <\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Since 1983 The INN has planned and instituted a series of wide-ranging programs to help people from all over Long Island who are plagued by hunger and homelessness. We invite you to take a look around our website and come in for a tour of our facilities to see exactly how your contribution is helping those in need.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Click the\u00a0Volunteer tab<\/a>\u00a0on our homepage, and complete the online volunteer registration form.\u00a0 An INN representative will then contact you within the next few business days.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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To ensure that our volunteers fully comprehend the serious responsibility of serving those who are hungry and homeless, we ask that volunteers are at least in high school (and 16 years of age) before they may volunteer during hours when the guests are present.\u00a0 However, don\u2019t forget that there are other ways to help.\u00a0 Those who are younger may come in, accompanied by an adult, during after-serving hours to help with things such as donation organization. Check out our\u00a0How to Help<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Youth and Family Involvement<\/a> pages on our website for more information.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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We are not currently hiring interns at The INN.\u00a0 If you wish to volunteer as an intern and are over 16 years of age, you will always be welcomed.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow many staff members and volunteers do you currently have?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Among The INN\u2019s soup kitchen, 2 emergency shelters, resource center & clothing boutique and 10 long-term housing programs located around Long Island we have the help of roughly 1,500 volunteers and a full-time staff of 53.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is the difference between a food bank, pantry and soup kitchen?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t