Food Pantry 

Click on the link below for an article explaining the history and current activities of our Food Pantry.
Holy Spirit Food Pantry Answers Call to Serve Neighbors in Need

The Food Pantry is requesting donations of coats, gloves, and scarves for the coming winter. Donations of general items of clothing are being suspended until after January 1st.

The Food Pantry is open at the St. Joseph the Worker site of Holy
Spirit Parish every Saturday from 9:00 am to noon. 

Holy Spirit Parish is collecting canned goods and dry goods to help those who need food during these uncertain times. Donation Boxes are in the entrance ways to the offices at St. James and St. Vitus sites. Please leave the food products in the plastic tubs there. We will collect and distribute them. 


 

In Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 25, we learn about the Corporal Works of Mercy:
¨ Feed the hungry
¨ Give drink to the thirsty
¨ Clothe the naked
¨ Visit the imprisoned
¨ Shelter the homeless
¨ Visit the sick
¨ Bury the dead
 
I am continually, positively overwhelmed by the generosity of people. Presently, we are providing food for over 200 families each weekend, along with household items and clothes for all ages. Our volunteers come week in and week out! Throughout the summer we have had donations of vegetables by individuals as well as 3 D’s Produce Farm and tons of food items from the Dollar Store on Moravia Street.

This past week, we received 1,100 hygiene bags from United Methodist at Eastbrook Mission Barn. Katy Peterson, from Eastbrook, generously gave us boxes of hygiene bags along with 1,100 tubes of toothpaste. This organization, like Catholic Charities, provides for emergency services and those needing hygiene items that people cannot buy with food stamps. Together we are making a difference in Lawrence County.   —Sr. Annie 

Each week at the Food Pantry, we give families bags of food that contain dry goods, produce, and meat. The food varies from week to week in order to provide variety to our recipients. On a regular basis, we also try to provide milk, cheese, butter, and eggs. For special occasions, we provide most of the items needed for a festive meal—for example, at Thanksgiving, we gave out 240 turkeys; for Christmas, we gave out several hams.

From January to March 2022, the Food Pantry served 351 families, representing 1,477 individuals. Many of these families visited our pantry every week, while some just once a month over the three-month time period. In total, we gave out food 741 times. Most of the people coming to our pantry are over the age of 65; however, about 99 families reportedly have 191 children under the age of 18 in their households.

It is interesting to note that our “neighbors”/clients come from 23 different zip codes! Some people think that we only serve those who are living within the city boundaries, but it is evident that people come from a variety of locations. It is important to note that we have 37 volunteers who help with the Food Pantry on a
regular basis. We also have a number of younger people who come to help.

All adult volunteers (those over the age of 18) must have Safe Environment clearances through our parish.

We are thankful to everyone who helps with this ministry, including all of our parishioners who donate generously to the Food Pantry every week. Please know that your giving spirit is far-reaching, and that your acts of love and charity have a strong impact on those in need.