MISSION POSSIBLE is a book with a simple purpose: to spur the development of new soup kitchens where they are needed

The book and the website are underwritten by the Tuchman Foundation, headed by Martin Tuchman, the conceiver of the project and one of the book’s co-authors.

The book contains 14 chapters and 4 appendices. Each chapter is composed of two sections: a two to three page overview of the subject followed by a list of tips, guides to some of the more subtle operations of a soup kitchen.

The book is organized in chronological fashion. It will take you from very conceptual considerations to relatively detailed instructions on the most common challenges you will face. In all cases, our essential goal has been to be practical and helpful.

Since the books release in July 2011 and its availability as a downloadable file, individuals in all 50 states and more than 150 different countries have downloaded the book.

Latest News & Events

Pitfalls to Avoid in Determining Charities to Support
The Times of Trenton Newapaper
By Irwin Stoolmacher

We are coming up to that time of the year when both your traditional and online mailboxes will be filled with appeals from local and national charities seeking your donations. If you are like me, you have a drawer somewhere in your house overflowing with low-cost give-away premiums — return address stickers, small “things to do” pads, and greeting cards that you received from nonprofits seeking your support.

Income Inequality is Bad News for New Jersey
The Times of Trenton Newapaper
By Irwin Stoolmacher

We are in the midst of the highest level of income inequality ever and it is widening. According to Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, "America currently has the most inequality, and the least opportunity, among the advanced countries."

Nationwide, in the last ten years, 95 percent of the economic gains have gone to the top 1 percent of earners. Our nation's wealthiest 25 billionaires have more that $1 trillion in wealth, that's the equivalent to the wealth of 56 percent of the rest of the population. In New Jersey, according to 2012-2016 Census data, income inequality is getting worse in 14 of our state's 21 counties. In Mercer County, the median income in West Windsor is now $167,629 and just $34,257 in Trenton.

The "deserving" vs. "undeserving" poor"
The Times of Trenton Newapaper
By Irwin Stoolmacher

The aphorism says "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" is familiar to many. While I agree with the underlying premise of the aphorism, it has always troubled me a little as it seems to diminish the importance of addressing immediate needs. When someone is drowning, priority number one should be providing them with a lifeline.

I'll hold my nose and vote for Menendez
The Times of Trenton Newapaper
By Irwin Stoolmacher

Back in June, I wrote that after Senator Robert Menendez was "severely admonished" by the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee for accepting $1 million in extravagant gifts, airplane flights, lavish hotel rooms and almost a million dollars in campaign contributions from his wealthy friend, Dr. Salomon Melgen, Democrats should have buttonholed him and made it clear that he would not have the party's support in his re-election campaign.

Filling Vacancy on Freeholder Boards
The Times of Trenton Newapaper
By Irwin Stoolmacher

On Wednesday September 5th the Mercer County Democratic Committee held a convention and selected Nina Melker from among seven candidates to fill the unexpired term of Freeholder Anthony Verrelli on the Board of Freeholders. Verrelli (Hopewell) stepped down from the seven-member Freehold Board when selected as the Party's replacement to fill the unexpired Assembly term of Reed Guscioria who was elected Mayor of Trenton on June 12th of this year.

The Murphy Administration Should Embrace Across-the-Board Mean-Testings
The Times of Trenton Newapaper
By Irwin Stoolmacher

It is widely recognized that Denmark has a very generous welfare system. In spite of the fact that they are among the most heavily taxed folks on earth - a 56.5 percent marginal-tax rate that triggers at the $80,000 income level - their citizens consistently indicate they are extremely happy with their ample welfare system.

The President is nefarious
The Times of Trenton Newapaper
By Irwin Stoolmacher

After one and a half years of the Trump presidency, I've come to the conclusion that the adjective that best describes our President is "nefarious." Nefarious is defined as wicked. Synonyms of the word include: evil, sinful, iniquitous, heinous, atrocious, vile, foul, abominable, odious, depraved, monstrous, fiendish, diabolical, unspeakable, and despicable.

Editorial: Proposed cuts to food program are immoral
By NCR Editorial Staff

Sometimes it feels hard to keep up with the myriad scandals swirling around the Trump White House. From alleged payoffs to a porn star and ongoing inquiries into Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election, the headlines come at a dizzying pace. The lurid spectacle of it all should not blind us to actual policy scandals that make a mockery of the administration's laughable claim to being "pro-life."

Op-Ed: Drastic SNAP Cuts Would Be Devastating Domestic Disaster
The Times of Trenton Newapaper
By Irwin Stoolmacher

In New Jersey, some 850,000 people receive more than $1 billion annually from SNAP to help buy food. Converting the program to a block grant would slash funds

Hunger affects one out of seven American men, woman, and children. Some 42.2 million Americans live in food-insecure households, including more than 13 million children. For this reason, America faces a potentially devastating domestic malnutrition disaster if the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp program) is converted to a block grant program and funding is slashed by $150 billion over 10 years.

With Money So Tight, We Need to Get Rid of Poor-Performing Charities
The Times of Trenton Newapaper
By Irwin Stoolmacher

America faces a potentially devastating domestic disaster the likes of which we have not seen in our history. As more and more charities seek money to deal with escalating problems, private support is stagnant and government money is on the decline.

A recent message received on the Mission Possible website from a Social Worker in Rhode Island

I saw your book advertised in the SUNY Binghamton Alumni News. I am a clinical social worker living in Rhode Island. Part of what I do here is run a transitional house for homeless adults. The Board and I are meeting shortly to consider new projects that we might undertake, as services for caring for the homeless population have undergone some shifts which have presented us with new challenges.

Book receives praise from South Africa

I just want to say thank you for the book. I'm based in South Africa and working with the Ward Councillor who wants to start several soup kitchens for his community. Thank You!

Archived News

Glowing Praise for Mission Possible:

"In these rough and tumble times, when the number of our neighbors who are hungry, or who are coming up short during any given month continues to escalate, the publishing of Mission Possible could not be more timely. The authors have done a great job of taking what was learned at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) and used that base to build a bold "soup kitchen primer". If you want to start a kitchen, make yours more powerful or just learn more, then this is a great introduction. If you see need in your community, don’t wait…read this book, get involved, step UP…we need your help." - Robert L.E. Egger President, DC Central Kitchen Campus Kitchens Project/V3 Campaign

"This is the best and most complete guide that I have ever seen for anyone considering beginning a soup kitchen. Step by step it will guide - it covers everything - but it is so much more. For those soup kitchens ready to do more than provide a meal, this is a guide for you too. Food banks across the country are actively involved in building the capacity of the charities they serve. This is a great tool for doing just that." - Kathleen F. DiChiara | President and CEO |Community Food Bank of New Jersey

"Working in a soup kitchen is one the hardest yet most fulfilling tasks. Most, soup kitchen work is holy work. It’s God’s work. Of course, we need to abolish hunger, poverty, war and nuclear weapons, but as we work for justice, we need to feed our hungry neighbors, for they are God in disguise. This book shows us how to do that. It’s helpful, immediately practical and encouraging. I hope it inspires many people to feed the hungry." - Rev. John Dear, author, The Question of Jesus and A Persistent Peace

"Mission Possible is important and unfortunately most relevant for the simple but urgent fact that growing numbers of Americans go hungry due to the lack of money to purchase food. The authors are well respected leaders in the community with recognized skills and competence in the non-profit sector. This book is an outstanding overview of how to establish or enhance the functioning of Soup Kitchens, using the best practices of non-profit management." - Fran Dolan, Former Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Trenton

"Mission Possible is a practical, deeply inspiring guide filled with basic information on how to start a soup kitchen. It is needed now more than ever." - Loretta Schwartz-Nobel, Author, Growing Up Empty: How Federal Policies are Starving America’s Children; Starving in the Shadow of Plenty

"Almost everyone wants to do something to make a difference. Visionary leaders of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (T.A.S.K) have made a huge difference in the lives of their patrons and in those of us who have been privileged to work with them. Mission Possible is about the best practices that have changed peoples' lives for the better through a soup kitchen. Here's the model. Make a difference!" - E. Roy Riley, Bishop, New Jersey Synod, ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

Want us to Speak at Your Event?

Authors Irwin Stoolmacher and Peter Wise are available to speak at your next conference or event.

Presentation Topics

Soup Kitchens: Band-Aid or Solution?
Are Soup Kitchen's Still Relevant?
How to Start a Soup Kitchen.
Soup Kitchens: Part of the problem or part of the solution?

Learn More

About the Authors

Irwin S. Stoolmacher, Martin Tuchman & Peter C. Wise have more than thirty-five years of in the trenches experience working with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK).

Download Now

Download the entire book (PDF, 5.78 MB) complete with artwork.

How You Can Start and Operate a Soup Kitchen

MISSION POSSIBLE is a book with a simple purpose: to spur the development of new soup kitchens where they are needed