June 15, 2023

St. Joseph’s Food Pantry, Thursday afternoon

1303 US 117, Burgaw, NC 28425.  Patricia Kopchick, Director.  518-275-9887.  stjoesfoodpantry@yahoo.com

June 15, 2023: Households Served – 151; Total People Served – 578

·       141 households participated in the Healthy Pantry Initiative at St. Joseph’s by selecting items from a wide range of fresh produce including broccoli, collards, squash, potatoes, and bananas. Marianne and Justin assisted guests in filling and carrying bags to cars for incapacitated family members & neighbors lacking 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.

·       Pete and Lubna invited guests to choose a dessert from the table of pastries donated by local bakeries.

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

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

·       Volunteers from Sharing Tree of St. Mark’s Parish stood in the parking lot, just outside the exit door, to load shopping bags of toiletries and cleaning supplies into the cars of the first 70 families served at the Pantry.

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

Last week one of our Granddad volunteers donated five riding playthings for toddlers that his grandchildren had outgrown. Patricia, Director of St. Joseph’s Pantry, displayed the toys behind our reception hall where the packing of food boxes takes place.  Elena, mother of four children, arrived early that Thursday and requested diapers for Kylar, her 2-year-old toddler. Unfortunately, Kylar’s size was not available. Regretfully, a volunteer escorted Elena back to view the lined-up toys hoping she might be able to use one for Kylar. Elena immediately picked out a little pink stroller which she knew her daughter would love. Kylar had spotted another toddler riding on an identical stroller the week before. Kylar wanted the stroller, but Elena could not afford it on the family’s $2,000 monthly income. This week Elena returned and reported that Kylar on spotting the stroller squealed “for Mee?” in joyful disbelief. Providing healthy food is only one of the many ways St. Joseph’s Food Pantry reaches out to support and bring joy to the homes of our low-income neighbors.

Christopher, age 20, entered the hall, hesitant and distrustful, clinging to his mother. He suffers with autism and is completely dependent on his aging parents who are also dealing with multiple misfortunes along with serious health issues. His mother, Jameelah, opened her heart to the registering volunteer, telling her how St. Joseph’s Food Pantry was such a blessing for her and the family during the pandemic. The family of four struggles on a monthly disability income of $ 2,600. Fortunately, they live in the home of a relative paying low optional rent. When Jameelah was presented with one of the $50 supermarket gift card, both she and the volunteer shed tears of joy and gratitude.

Becky visited us this week from Duplin County. She is single and works full time earning approximately $3,000 a month. Her income does not stretch far enough in her home, where she is raising the four children of her deceased sister. She treasures the children including twins, age 15, a boy aged 14, and a two-year-old toddler needing day care. Becky is grateful for the diapers and whatever else we can offer to support her as she cares for her three nieces and a nephew.

Robert brought in two Whitman’s Samplers, Father’s Day chocolates, for Pantry volunteers. There were one hundred forty-one families visiting St. Joseph’s on Thursday during the four short hours of operation between noon and 4 o’clock. The parking was overcrowded and the reception hall at times became quite noisy. Yet, volunteers at St. Joseph’s made every effort to take time to meet and care for each guest.  At the end of the day, volunteers find that these personal encounters with guests leave them with spiritual gifts that we share in our weekly reports.

“How happy (blessed) are the poor” (Matthew 5:3) and “the Kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21)