August 10, 2023 - St Joseph Food Pantry report

August 10, 2023: Households Served – 134; Total People Served – 493

• 110 households participated in the Healthy Pantry Initiative at St. Joseph’s by selecting items from a range of fresh produce including cucumbers, squash, peppers, corn, and tomatoes. Marianne and Justin assisted guests filling and carrying bags to cars for incapacitated family members & neighbors without transportation. 

• Food carried to qualifying households by friends or family members is not included in the Healthy Pantry Totals because these households are not on site to personally participate in the selection of healthy foods for their boxes, nor do they have access to tasting samples.

• Maureen and Exie invited guests to choose a dessert from the table of pastries donated by local bakeries.

• Barbara and Kathy welcomed guests to the sharing table where donated clothes and shoes for men, women, and children as well as household items were displayed.

• Volunteers from Sharing Tree of St. Marks waited at the exit door with bags full of cleaning supplies to distribute to the first 90 households served at the Pantry. 

The parking lot at St. Joseph’s fills up early on Thursdays, often stretching capacity. Jeremy, who directs parking and traffic, keeps everyone safe. He shares this story: 

Justin came in last week with his wife and daughter. He recently lost his job because of a medical issue. At the same time, his food expenditures also increased with the extended family members who moved in because of difficult times. Justin went from 230lbs to 190lbs as the doctors struggled to figure out the cause of his symptoms. After going to the ER multiple times, he was finally diagnosed with gallbladder problems and scheduled for surgery. After the surgery, Justin was pretty much bedridden and wasn't eating much, which contributed to the extreme weight loss.

I followed the family outside and was moved to prayer. I asked if they would mind if I prayed with them. He and I shared a moment of prayer in the parking lot as his wife chased their daughter around. She is a dad's girl, and because he is not able to hold her right now, both father and daughter are stressed. After that special moment of shared prayer, Justin expressed relief and confidence that things were going to be ok. It was a moment of grace for the family and for me.