Taste & See
The mission of Taste & See is simple yet powerful: to improve the quality of life in struggling communities by providing hot, nutritious meals and groceries—served with compassion and love.
How it Began In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, Heartbeat International Ministries responded to the devastation in New York City by cooking and distributing hundreds of meals to desperate neighborhoods. Out of this effort, Taste & See was born, growing into the feeding program it is today.
Growing Impact This ministry first took root in the South Bronx, where teams of volunteers prepared wholesome, home-cooked meals and delivered them weekly to the poorest communities in the tri-state area and to the city’s most vulnerable homeless. Partnering with local churches and outreach centers, the Taste & See team distributed meals that nourished both body and spirit.
In 2018, the ministry expanded from a Bronx soup kitchen to a donated food truck, which became a mobile kitchen for relief efforts. That same year, the truck traveled to North Carolina to serve families devastated by Hurricane Florence, offering everything from chicken soup to fresh salads, smoothies, burgers, and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Taste & See also began distributing bountiful grocery boxes to families going through hard times—especially single mothers. Unlike typical food pantry supplies, these boxes were filled with fresh produce, milk, eggs, whole grains, legumes, honey, and meats—many purchased directly from local farmers’ markets.
Recent Work In 2019, Taste & See partnered with a local homeless shelter in South Carolina, providing over 2,700 hot meals. By 2023, the food truck had traveled to Florida to partner with Y365, continuing to serve neighbors in need. Most recently, the truck was essential in delivering relief meals to communities devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Looking Ahead Taste & See is preparing to expand its outreach by focusing on children in food-insecure households. Beginning soon, the program will provide meals to children every Friday, including bag lunches and weekend meal packs. For many children, school lunches are their only guaranteed meals—this new initiative will ensure they don’t go hungry when school is closed.
Thank you for helping us feed the hungry in our own backyard. Your support keeps the Taste & See food truck on the road and meals on the table for children and families who need them most.
