Tying Together Family and Community
By Emma Fox, ‘22

Running a soup kitchen is no easy task, especially when so many people rely on it as their main source of hot, nutritional meals. It requires a lot of dedication and careful planning across many volunteers.

For Alyssa Levac, ’18, the rewards outweighed the challenges.

Alyssa first volunteered at St. Bonaventure University’s Warming House, a student-run soup kitchen, as a freshman. She quickly learned the ropes and came back a few times a week to help cook and distribute food to guests.

She fell in love with the experience. Year after year she returned, learning the guests’ stories and delivering hot meals in the process.

When she finished her undergraduate degree, Alyssa continued at the Warming House as she went on to grad school. This time, she was a program manager and was on scene nearly every day the kitchen operated.

While she often took care of what was behind the scenes and helped train new volunteers, Alyssa could now focus on her favorite part of the Warming House—meeting and becoming friends with the guests.

“This was something I enjoyed greatly, and I still keep in touch with some of the guests regularly,” Alyssa said. “Their stories and advice had a great impact on me, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity the coordinator role provided.”

Throughout her time with the Warming House, Alyssa would call her parents, Dr. Jody and Elizabeth Levac, and share stories of her time spent with the guests.

Her parents, curious to see in person what she worked on, decided to pay a visit. They knew beforehand that her dedication and passion would pair well with the program, and after so many years of sticking with it, they were excited to see her in action at the soup kitchen.

Alyssa herself was eager to to introduce her real family to her “Warming House family.” She wanted to show that the Warming House did not just provide meals—the connection from person to person was critical.

Sharing stories, laughs, and a meal with others while they watched Alyssa coordinate proved to be an eye-opening experience for the Levacs.

“Alyssa was inspiring, as she really enjoyed the people, and the spirit of helping those less fortunate,” Dr. Levac said. “The work was meaningful and very important to her.”

Every person Alyssa presented  to her parents was introduced as though Alyssa had known them forever. She spoke to them as friends instead of guests and had personal conversations with them whenever she found the time. It was obvious that each person was enjoying their time spent making conversation just as much as the food.

Her passion and dedication to the soup kitchen was heartwarming for her parents. Not only did they enjoy the food and the kind, nurturing atmosphere, but the effort put in by both Alyssa and the other volunteers solidified their positive views of the Warming House.

“The Warming House provides more than just food,” Dr. Levac said. “It provides a sense of belonging, a sense of family, and a sense of being cared for by people who work in a non-judgmental manner with an ‘open arms’ mentality.”

Alyssa’s parents agreed that the work of the volunteers was vital; the quality of the food and conversation was clearly a wonderful experience for guests, especially those who may have lacked one or the other.

For Alyssa, being able to show her parents the impact the soup kitchen had on others simply by doing what she did every day felt incredible.

“It was great to show my parents what the strength and power of listening can do to for people, especially those who are struggling,” she said.

She hopes that other volunteers in the future can feel that same sense of importance in their responsibilities. The good feeling that comes from making someone’s day just a little more personable and special is a wonderful experience that she would love to pass on.

“As the oldest student-run soup kitchen in the country, the culture of sharing, giving and connecting runs deep,” Alyssa said. “In today’s society there is so much hate, isolation, and misunderstanding, the Warming House is a place for warmth, conversations, good food, and great people.”