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On a Tuesday night in Plattsburgh

Sept. 7, 2016

By Shawn Ryan
Staff writer

Plattsburgh  - At the very top of the Corporal Works of Mercy is feeding the hungry, and giving drink to the thirsty. Nowhere are these works more wholly embodied than at St. Peter’s Tuesday night soup kitchen, and in Feed the hungrythe person of Deacon Mark Bennett.

The soup kitchen was originally opened in 1997 by then Pastor Father John Yonkovig and Deacon Bob Diehl. Deacon Bennett took over running the soup kitchen  - located at the Seton Academy, next door to St. Peter’s - 11 years ago.

One of the primary roles of a deacon, he explains, is to work with the poor.

“My guiding light is certainly the words of Jesus himself. ‘What you do to the least of our brothers…’” says Deacon Bennett.

Over the course of the year, the soup kitchen feeds on average about 65 to 70 people every Tuesday night starting at 5 p.m., and continuing until all are fed.

In slow seasons their numbers might drop to around 40, but during the peak winter months the number of people seeking a meal can number over 100.

“The vast bulk are the working poor,” he explains. “They find by the end of the month the money is short, and they stop by the soup kitchen for a good meal.

“But it’s not just feeding them, it’s a social time as well,” Deacon Bennett said.

The food shelf is funded primarily by the parish, as well as by gifts from the Knights of Columbus Council 255 in Plattsburgh, and a yearly FEMA Grant. Some of those sources, says Bennett, are more reliable than others.

“The Knights are extremely generous,” the deacon said. “That’s something I can count on, as opposed to the FEMA grant, the Knights are always there.”

But the weekly food shelf is not the only work of charity for the venerable Plattsburgh church. Last year parishioners distributed over 100 full Thanksgiving baskets, and stocked a Christmas giving tree with over $10,000 of clothes and toys for children.

They also provide some less well known programs such as occasional gas vouchers for the working poor, and financial help with some medical expenses.

For the 1970 Mount Assumption Institute graduate, a calling to the ministry was something many years in the making. After high school Deacon Bennett enrolled in Wadhams Hall, and eventually transferred to Catholic University in Washington D.C.

“It was around that time that Father Harry Giroux introduced me to my wife,” he said.

After 30 years in banking, he received a call in 2009 from Father Yankovig, asking him to consider a calling as a deacon.

“Basically I came full circle,” he said. “For me it’s been the best of both worlds.” He and his wife Theresa have celebrated 40 years of marriage, and have three sons and four grandchildren. 

In a serious moment, the man sporting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle socks contemplated the future of the St. Peter’s Soup Kitchen.

“Jesus said there will always be the poor among you,” Deacon Bennett said. “In a perfect world we wouldn’t need it, and with some of the new businesses coming to Plattsburgh hopefully it’ll be needed less and less.”

What he’s happiest about, he says, is the support he and the soup kitchen receive from the parish and from the community.

With it they’ve been able to hire a dedicated cook, Doris Leazott, and plan to respond in the future to whatever challenges might come their way.

“You’re not only reading the Gospel,” he said. “You’re living the Gospel.”

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