Read Our Food Pantry Impact Report
Dear friends,
We are pleased to offer an Annual Impact Summary of the work at the food pantry. We hope that you will read this carefully. It takes a village to operate the pantry, and we are immensely grateful to all our supporters, whatever your gift. We simply could not do this without you.
If you have visited Singler Hall at St. Pius V, you might remember that the Beatitudes are hung from the walls and pillars. Blessed are the meek… the poor in spirit… they who mourn. This certainly describes many of the neighbors who come to the pantry needing food, rent, utility assistance, beds, clothing, and more.
While the beatitudes optimistically describe them as “blessed,’ they are often sad, lonely, frustrated, and angry. But are remarkably resilient. I am humbled by the depth of need, and by our limited resources.
What do we offer at the food pantry?
Before all else, we offer respect, dignity, and kindness to each person. We strive to see them as neighbors whose well-being is inextricably tied up with ours, both physically and spiritually. We offer food, of course, and have made amazing progress in being able to offer milk, eggs, meat, and fresh produce--and allowing neighbors to choose what foods they would like.
The bequest of Carol King, the former President of the St. Pius V St. Vincent de Paul Conference, enables us to provide at least temporary stability to families who face eviction or the disconnection of their utilities.
We also connect our neighbors with other community support and encourage them to be active citizens. The pantry has increased its networking with community resources as well to better meet the needs of the neighbors who visit the pantry.
In her book of short stories, Cities I Have Never Lived In, Sara Majka describes one of her visits to a food pantry:
I thought that those few people passing out food- with their hands in little plastic gloves, and their cross behind them- should not be our major defense against this kind of poverty; as a defense it felt hopeful, frail and largely hidden.
I know that our work is mostly hidden, a blip on the radar screen of human need in the community. And yet, it feels hopeful because it eases the burden of our neighbors in at least a small way. I trust that this, along with the respect and kindness shown, does make a difference.
We are also called to grow our frail defenses against poverty by seeking solutions that are not only charitable but also promote justice. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. May that be all of us!
With gratitude,
Ruth Ehresman
President, St. Pius V St. Vincent de Paul Conference
