551 Ninth Ave., NY 10018 Phone: 212 947 5466 Email: pfcoffeehouse@projectfind.org
Hours of Operation: Sunday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
The Coffeehouse Senior Center dates back to 1969 when Project FIND started an information and referral desk for seniors in the Port Authority Bus Terminal. After one year, the agency documented that over 300 seniors had visited the center. By the summer of 1971, Project FIND had rented a storefront space to serve as an informal meeting place for seniors. A soup and sandwich program was started in 1973, and in 1977 the Department for the Aging (DFTA) funded a full food program as part of our new Woodstock contract. In the early 1980’s the Coffeehouse Senior Center moved into a newly renovated space owned by the Port Authority across the street from the Bus Terminal.
Coffeehouse provides breakfast and lunch six days a week in addition to a myriad of educational and recreational activities. In 1997 we started the Homeless In-Reach Program to move homeless elderly from the streets to transitional or permanent housing. In 2002 we added a Thursday evening meal program (“Day for Night”) along with a take-away lunch program four days a week.
Last year over 1,100 people visited Coffeehouse. The Homeless In-Reach social services team worked with about 150 homeless people to find appropriate housing. In addition, 50,000 meals were served, and 2,600 take-away lunches were provided.
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Breakfast Menu (PDF 96 KB)
Lunch Menu (PDF 104 KB)
Events & Activities (PDF 108 KB)
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The Coffeehouse Senior Center serves a varied population that includes many homeless people. Despite the hectic neighborhood, Augustine Brown watches over a facility that is remarkably calm and cozy.
Augustine began at Project FIND working as a Kitchen Aide at the Woodstock Senior Center. She proved to be a fast and enthusiastic learner and moved on to become Kitchen Supervisor at Coffeehouse. Soon after that she was promoted to Assistant Director of Coffeehouse, and three years later, Augustine became its director.
For Augustine, the best thing about the job is working with the seniors: touching base with them every day and keeping them on the right track. She knows who has a new grandchild and who plays the piano; who just got out of the hospital and who has been successfully battling an alcohol problem. Augustine keeps their confidences and tries quietly to help. The most satisfying aspect of the job is when homeless seniors find places to live. She refers them to the social worker at Coffeehouse, and together they work on getting them into an appropriate residence. Meanwhile, Sunday through Friday, Coffeehouse is full of people enjoying each other’s company, under Augustine’s watchful eye. |
