From Client to Leader: A Full-Circle Story of Hope

For Taina Rodriguez, Part of the Solution (POTS) is not just a workplace, it’s home. “My official role is the Associate Director of Food and Dignity Services, and I oversee our pantry, soup kitchen, and dignity and wellness programs,” she explains. “But what first drew me here was that I started as a client.”

POTS has been longtime agency of Catholic Charities of New York, working together to ensure that families in the Bronx have consistent access to food, dignity, and comprehensive support. Through this partnership, POTS receives essential resources, volunteer support, and funding that strengthen its programs and expand its reach. Together, both organizations collaborate to meet immediate needs while helping clients build long-term stability and hope.

She recalls being just 11 years old when her family, struggling with food insecurity, came to POTS for the first time. “I didn’t know what a soup kitchen was. My mom said we were going to a restaurant, and it really felt like one. That dignity meant everything.”

When she later asked if she could work there to help her mom, a volunteer told her to come in on Saturday. “I thought I was getting a job,” she laughs, “but then they said, “This is free, we’re volunteers. It opened my eyes to the goodness in people. From that day, I knew I wanted to be part of this.”

Years later, she returned to POTS; this time as a leader. “I wanted to make the same impact that POTS made for me and my family. To pay it forward and continue that chain of hope.”

POTS is a community support center in the Bronx that provides food, social services, and pathways to stability for thousands of families each year. What began more than four decades as a small soup kitchen has grown into a one-stop resource offering meals, a food pantry, showers, case management, legal assistance, and dignity services. 

For many New Yorkers, POTS is both a safety net and place to rebuild their lives with compassion and respect.

Meeting Rising Needs, Especially During the Holidays

Each holiday season, POTS experiences one of its busiest times of year. “It’s almost like the early days of the pandemic again,” she says. “Families are already struggling, and now with the government shutdown, many have lost even the small assistance they relied on. It’s devastating.”

To meet the surge in demand, POTS prepares months in advance, coordinating with vendors, securing low-cost bulk food orders, and launching special distributions. “We’ve already done extra food drives and are preparing another. We reach out to our supporters early and let them know: this is what’s coming, and we need your help.”

That help doesn’t stop at the kitchen door. The organization’s Community Dining Room and Food Pantry are also sources of connection, where neighbors share a meal, volunteers serve with compassion, and clients find community. “Food brings people together,” she says. “It’s comfort, it’s care, and it’s often the first step toward rebuilding someone’s confidence.”

Working Together for Greater Impact

Collaboration is central to how POTS operates. Partnerships with organizations like Catholic Charities of New York help expand resources and strengthen outreach. “There’s no single answer to end poverty,” she notes. “But when we combine efforts, when one group provides food, another offers legal services, and another provides case management, we create a real pathway out of crisis.”

That partnership extends to volunteers, too. Catholic Charities’ volunteer network has become an essential part of POTS’ day-to-day work. “It’s like bringing two all-star teams together,” says Christopher Minaya, Food Pantry Manager at POTS. “They share our values, treating everyone with dignity and respect. When our clients see new faces from Catholic Charities helping out, it builds even more trust and connection.”

Expanding to Meet Growing Needs

Over the past year, POTS has grown significantly, expanding its warehouse space and improving its Wellness Center to better serve clients. “We’ve doubled, sometimes tripled, the number of households we serve,” Minaya explains. “With our expanded facilities, we can store more in-kind donations and ensure food is always available.”

That commitment to preparation and partnership means POTS can respond to increased community needs, even in times of uncertainty. “We can’t always guarantee everything,” says Rodriguez. “But what we can promise is that we’ll keep showing up.”

The Power of Volunteers

Volunteers like members of POTS’ Junior Board are another driving force behind its mission. “We see ourselves as the next generation of supporters,” said Anne Gilliand, Junior Board member. “We volunteer, raise funds, and bring others in to experience POTS for themselves.”

She was first introduced by a friend who invited her to a volunteer shift. “We had so much fun cooking and serving meals, it was such a warm, welcoming experience. In a city as big as New York, finding purpose can be hard, but POTS gives you that sense that you’re truly making a difference,” says Gilliand.

That firsthand experience, seeing hundreds of people lined up in the morning, relying on POTS for a meal, a shower, or a fresh start made the impact tangible. “You realize how essential these services are,” she says. “And how every small act, every volunteer shift or donation, ripples out to change lives.”

Looking Ahead with Hope

As the holidays approach, the challenges continue to grow, from rising costs to funding uncertainty. “Our biggest challenge is always making sure we have the resources to keep going,” says Rodriguez. “But we’ve been here for over 43 years, and what makes POTS unique is that our spirit hasn’t changed. We still welcome everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from.”

When asked what food, dignity, and community mean to her, she smiles. “Hope,” she says simply. “That’s what it all means. Because without food, without community, people lose hope, and that’s what POTS gives back every single day.”

“Part of the Solution” — And Proud of It

Every staff member, volunteer, and partner at POTS shares the same belief, that no one should face hunger or hardship alone.

As Minaya, the Pantry Manager, puts it: “When people come to us, they’re often uncertain where their next meal will come from, how they’ll get back on their feet. We want them to walk out certain of one thing: that we care. We’re here. We’re reliable. And we’ll keep fighting for our neighbors.”

Because at POTS, being part of the solution isn’t just a name, it’s a promise.