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FOOD DONATIONS DESPERATELY NEEDED!
VISIT US ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StStephenfoodpantry/NEW DISTRIBUTION TiME
Donation by CHECK:
Saturdays from 9:00am-11:00am
From Michael Goss
Another big morning at the food pantry! 360 needy served, 53 volunteers. An almost empty pantry. We are in need of pasta and sauce, canned vegetables, tuna, canned beans, mac & cheese and other non-perishables to help fill 350+ bags next week.
Thanks to all who helped us this week with donations, volunteering or by prayers!
The St. Stephen's Pantry continues to serve over 400 families each Saturday. The need of the community is great and so is the need for donations. PLEASE HELP! See below for food items desperately needed. Thank you.
Below are the continued most needed items for the pantry:
canned tuna and chicken
canned soups
canned fruits, vegetables and tomatoes
canned pork and beans
small bags of beans and rice
small bags or boxes of pasta
peanut butter, jelly and jams (plastic jars)
cereal and cans of oatmeal
boxed pasta and pasta sauce (plastic jars)
boxed mac and cheese
fruit juice (plastic jar)
paper towel and toilet paper
Wish list items: Baby Diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, feminine hygiene products, deodorant and travel size soap, shampoo and toothpaste.
Donations of non-perishable items can be left on the table in the breezeway, perhaps on your way to Mass or after 3:30 on school days.
Your donations help those in need and are greatly appreciated.
MONETARY DONATIONS
We will also accept cashand check donations as well as gift cards to grocery stores.
You can also donate through FAITH DIRECT
Check donations are accepted for any amount.
Make check payable to: "SHRINE ST. JUDE" and in the " memo" line please write "St. Stephens Pantry".NEW DONATION DROP-OFF SCHEDULE
Youth Volunteers
Regular staffed drop-off days and times are on Friday 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm and Sunday 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
Please note, that if you are not able to make a drop off on Firday or Sunday with the regular pantry volunteers present, you may leave the donations in the Breezeway AFTER 3:30 pm, Monday thru Friday and all day, Saturday and Sunday. Please mark your donation "Food Pantry".
PLEASE NOTE: the Breezeway doors are locked from 7:45 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday for the safety and health of our school children, teachers and staff.
Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers who help every week!
Others Who Gave Generously
The Knights of Columbus St. Joseph Manyanet Council #5567
The Knights of Columbus also provided 20 Thanksgiving Dinners for the needy, which were distributed on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. These included a turkey, stuffing mix, gravy, canned vegetables, fresh celery and carrots, potatoes, onions, bread, and a bag of candy.
And a special unexpected delivery…of 15 more turkeys from long-time parishioner Carlos Atilio Menjivar.
Summary Report of Food Pantry Donations from Neighboring Churches, the Knights of Columbus, and Catholic Charities
St. Martin’s: St. Jude’s parishioner Tom Roach performs twice weekly pick-ups of donated food working with Chuck Smith from St. Martin's. To date, Tom has filled his truck 27 times in the 21 weeks since the pantry started, with salad kits, vegetables, fruit, berries, bagels, bread sticks, etc.
St. Patrick’s: Donations of non-perishable items arrive the third Sunday of each month following collections at that day’s morning masses. Most recently, on September 20, the pantry received over 40 bags/boxes.
Our Lady of Grace: Louise Hendon of OLOG Sodality, led a Diaper Drive in August and donations continue to arrive. Over 2,500 diapers have been delivered to the pantry by Amazon from OLOG parishioners.
St. Jane de Chantal: Non-perishable food donations in August.
St. Andrew Apostle: Father Dan Leary provided perishable and non-perishable donations in late May.
Also —Knights of Columbus: The St. Joseph Manyanet Council #5567, based at St. Catherine Laboure, took over the 3-hour drive each way to Hagerstown in August and delivers 700 loaves of bread to the pantry every week.
Catholic Charities: Since mid-August, as part of their Community Outreach Department, Catholic Charities has provided the pantry with 300 bags of non-perishable items every week.
(Report compiled by Mike Goss, Director, St. Stephen’s Food Pantry at the Shrine of St. Jude)
AS THE NEED GROWS - SO DOES THE ST. STEPHEN PANTRY
News from the St. Stephen's Food Pantry. The pantry has become much cooler with the addition of two (2) new refrigerators and one (1) new freezer delivered on Friday, September 4th. That makes a total of four (4) refrigerators and two (2) freezers available to the pantry and to the church. There was also an air conditioning unit installed to the expanded pantry room (a former storage room) the last week of August. Special thanks to the parishioners for the generous donation to keep the pantry a cool place.
Also new to the pantry was the acquisition of a much needed pallet jack.
Photos of the pantry rooms and kitchen.
The following link will take you to an online photo album of the St. Stephen's Food Pantry bagging night at the Shrine of St. Jude.
Photo Albus of Bagging Night
Enjoy the photos. courtesy of Tom Roach
There are 25+ youth volunteers out there every Saturday running bags and boxes of food to the clients vehicles, directing traffic, moving food carts of food to the tables, etc. The youth of our parish are really stepping to aid the needy of our community.
10,000 grocery bags donated to St. Stephen’s Pantry
The Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Association of the United States and Canada, (OPCMIA) a labor union located in Columbia, MD, representing Plasterers, Cement Masons, Shop Hands has donated 10,000 grocery bags to the Shrine of St. Jude, St. Stephen’s Pantry.
We are very grateful to General President Stepano and the OPCMIA for their generous donation. From all the volunteers and recipients of St. Stephen’s Food Pantry – THANK YOU!
OPCMIA Bag Donation video
Pantry News
So far, on the first Saturday of distribution on May 9th, 121 families were served. We are now serving well over 400 families and the need is growing.
Thanks to all who are donating and please continue to donate.
Past Photo Albums
The food pantry received a generous donation of 196 bags of food from Twin Valley Distillers on May 22. 2020. The food pantry also received an emergency donation of 500 paper bags from the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Thursday, May 21st just before bagging time.
Twin Valley Distributor Donation
photos, by Tom Roach
Distribution days: May - August 2020:
Enjoy the photos courtesy of Fr. Paul D. Lee
Photo Album Packing Night
Enjoy the photos.courtesy of Tom Roach
Photos of 1st distribution day courtesy of Tom Roach
The first weekly distribution was a huge success, serving 121 families.
Blessing of the Food Pantry April 27, 2020
We are still accepting volunteers for Inventory and for drop-off and distribution days. There are pantry guidelines concerning social distancing and we have 2,000 facial masks on order that have already shipped.
If you wish to volunteer please send your name, phone number, and email to Edwin Lopez at elopez1@farmersagent.com.