June 1, 2023 at St Joseph Food Pantry in Burgaw

June 1, 2023: Households Served – 141; Total People Served –515

·       128 households participated in St. Joseph’s Pantry’s Healthy Initiative by selecting items from a wide range of fresh produce including collards, kale, zucchini, watermelons, cabbage, and potatoes. Marianne and Justin assisted guests filling and carrying bags to cars for incapacitated family members & neighbors without transportation.

·       Households served through outreach are not included in the Healthy Pantry Totals because members from these households are not on site to personally participate in the selection of healthy foods for their boxes.

·       Catholic Charities offered diapers to children and adults who needed them.

·       Pete playfully entertained guests as he prompted them to choose from the table of pastries donated by local bakeries – he paused to give children ample time to choose but never more than one item.

·       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.

·       Three supermarket gift cards purchased from local donations were given to families needing special assistance.

This week the hall at St. Joseph’s Food Pantry filled with children. School is closed for summer vacation, so the children accompanied their mothers and grandmothers to pick up food. A significant number of disabled and handicapped children, some in the loving arms of parents, waited at the registration desk. Volunteers tried to reach out to these caregivers with diapers and whatever extra is available from the community of St. Joseph’s supporters.

Gustavo returned this week. Last month he was released from the hospital after abdominal surgery and presently not able to return to his work in construction. Last week he alarmed volunteers when he described his bleeding wound. We immediately accompanied him over to the nurse from the visiting Novant Health team. The nurse checked out his wound and reinforced our recommendation that he return to the clinic as soon as possible. Fortunately, this week Gustavo reported that the rupture had been repaired. Sill not able to work and without sick leave because he works on a contractual basis, his financial situation has dire consequences for his niece and 7-year-old son. Thanks to our generous supporters, volunteers were able to supplement his food box with one of the donated Food Lion gift cards.

Later in the afternoon, as the crowd dwindled in the hall, Maysie, one of our senior guests, brought in a few moments of joyful calm. She recently celebrated her ninety-first birthday and entered with her curls bouncing and big smile. Maysie speaks softly and when pressed will tell us about the five grandchildren in her home, two sets of twins - eleven and eighteen years old and an infant. It is hard to explain how Maysie maintains her gentle grace while living with all those children (adolescent twins, teen twins, and an infant) - but she does! Her glow lingers in the hearts of volunteers long after she departs with her arms full of vegetables, fruit, diapers, and dessert. Before leaving, Maysie always extends her gratitude and blessing to all who enable the mission at St. Joseph’s Food Pantry.

In this season of Pentecost, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit who gives heart to the Mission of St. Joseph’s Food Pantry. The Divine Spirit infuses volunteers with the dynamic of loving as a witness to the glory of our life-giving God who does not send suffering but accompanies us in it through one another.

“And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” (Matthew 28:20)