God's Love We Deliver returns to SoHo with opening of New Michael Kors Building

NEW YORK – June 20, 2015 – We are pleased to announce the opening of the Michael Kors Building at God’s Love We Deliver’s newly renovated SoHo headquarters. The building also includes the Anna Wintour Volunteer Center and the Joan Rivers Bakery, both of which were dedicated as part of today’s ceremonies.

This morning, Michael Kors, Anna Wintour and Melissa Rivers joined Mayor Bill de Blasio and other notable New Yorkers as well as God’s Love staff, donors, and volunteers to celebrate the launch of the new facility in a special ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony. The ARC gospel choir joined the day’s festivities, singing “I'm Working On A Building,” “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher,” and “Oh Happy Day.” 

“With the dedication of our expanded facility, we will, together with our thousands of caring and committed volunteers and supporters, continue to serve the most vulnerable among us, meeting an ever-increasing demand for our program,” said Karen Pearl, President & CEO of God’s Love We Deliver. “Every day, more and more sick and hungry New Yorkers reach out to God’s Love looking for help. The Michael Kors Building allows us to continue to respond to the urgent needs of our clients for years to come. We will provide all those who need us with life-sustaining – and life-affirming – services at no charge and without a waiting list.”

The God’s Love expansion project, which was made possible, in part, by an $8 million city grant and private gifts, including more than $5 million from designer Michael Kors, more than doubles the organization’s space – from 18,000 square feet to over 48,500 square feet. 

The nonprofit has been cooking and delivering nutritious, individually-tailored meals to people living with severe illnesses in the metropolitan area for over 30 years and currently serves more than 1.4 million meals to some 5,200 people each year. The new Michael Kors Building allows the organization to meet the growing demand for its services, up 94% over the last eight years.

The facility includes a new bakery, named The Joan Rivers Bakery in honor of the late comedian, talk-show host and author who supported God’s Love for over 25 years and sat on the Board of Directors for 20 years. It also plays home to The Anna Wintour Volunteer Center, honoring Anna Wintour’s more than 20 years of service and support to God’s Love and made possible through a gift by Michael Kors, Lance Le Pere, John Idol and the Michael Kors company.  

In addition to these spaces, the new facility also includes an expanded delivery and pack-out area, an enclosed loading dock and rooftop garden where herbs will be grown for the food that the non-profit organization plans to serve.

“God’s Love We Deliver has been helping and healing our community for more than 30 years, bringing home-cooked meals to people who are ill and, in the process, turning strangers into neighbors,” said Michael Kors. “They are a precious resource for so many people, and it’s a privilege to be able to help them grow and expand their vital mission.”