The StreetCorner Gourmets
For over 50 years, Sister Mary Lanning was committed to making “family” in the City of New York. She led a grassroots, person-to-person organization that has touched thousands of lives in neighborhoods all around the city and beyond. Mary pioneered the idea that saying “yes” and figuring out the details later, could change the lives of people from the ground up. Her simple philosophy of change making as being as meaningful for the person receiving the homemade meal as for that person making it, captivated and inspired her volunteers for decades. We are honoring her memory by continuing her annual events on Thanksgiving and Valentines Day.
All year long, our guests eat what we and others no longer want. Much of what they eat already has been nibbled on by at least one other mouth, human or other
~ MARY LANNING, ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER AL FRESCO, MEALS AT HOME WHEREVER HOME IS, 2003
Some Of Our Origins
A Meal Fit for a King on Thanksgiving
While she didn’t favor self promotion, and certainly didn’t promote advertising in any way, Mary did challenge each of us to bring our best selves to each opportunity. All of her recipes were made with the finest organic ingredients, and prepared by hand in a variety of kitchen settings all across the city; your neighbors single burner stove, the community center’s gas fired antique, or a host of school based kitchens, each meal was prepared lovingly, packaged and delivered hot to the iconic corner to be given away. All of the “lonely holidays” were given attention by Mary; Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day.
You make the best you know how, from the finest ingredients. Then, you give it away to people you don’t even know, and may never meet again.
~ MARY LANNING, EXCERPT FROM THE STREETCORNER GOURMETS COOKBOOK, 2003
Knowing that we can each make a difference no matter how big or how small, we would like to take a note from Mary and continue to serve meals on the street. We are asking for your generosity in making a donation in Mary’s honor to assist with funding the annual Thanksgiving meal(s). 100% of the donations collected will go directly to the meal, and benefit someone who could really use the reassurance of knowing that they “matter”. Please consider giving to the StreetCorner Gourmets for our big event on Thanksgiving and our smaller effort for love on Valentines Day.
Our whole meal is made up of a lot of modest giving’s that each one of us decides to share. Put them all together, and we have our meal. We always have “enough”… Dig deep. You have more to give than you think!
~ MARY LANNING, ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER AL FRESCO, MEALS AT HOME WHEREVER HOME IS, 2003
A Sister Mary Tribute - Boys Hope Girls Hope NY
To the scholars of Boys Hope Girls Hope, Sister Mary was synonymous with kindness, service, and love. She showed love to our scholars unconditionally and made sure that they felt heard, valued, and respected. Sister Mary referred to the scholars as “her kids.” She was the dorm’s grandmother in many ways. You never left Sister Mary without a sincere affirmation, a warm hug, and the feeling that you were treasured. Sister Mary was a cherished member of the BHGHNY fabric.
As board member, she used her influence and connections to benefit the scholars and expand their horizons. Sister Mary founded BHGHNY’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner events at our dormitories. GWCTD is a speaker series where distinguished guests share their stories and connect with our scholars. Mary invited people over so her friends could meet “her kids”, and give people chance to meet the incredible scholars she worked with and for. She chaired the IFNY internship, an internship offered to for our scholars to get their first opportunity to see how they fit in the business world. That internship was built off the connections and network that Sister Mary over the decades of her professional career. She parlayed those connections for more opportunities for our scholars. She led various community service projects that served the neediest in the communities were the scholars were from. She never made anyone feel like an outsider.
In the dorm, in the classroom, in the board room, and in the community, Sister Mary was the same. She showed the scholars love and compassion and hoped that they would do the same for people who needed it. She embodied kindness, service, and hope.
