Church pantry hopes to collect 1.5 tons of donated food

The food pantry at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne is expected to fill to brim with donated items later this month, thanks to the efforts of its youth ministry, which will host its third annual Souper Scavenger Hunt on March 31.

Led by youth ministry coordinator Linda Baldacchino, the affair features volunteers who travel around in groups to local houses accepting food donations for the pantry in effort to help the community come together and get involved in charity. The scavenger hunt has been supported annually by the Malverne Civic and Merchants associations, who play a big part in lending a hand by weighing and gathering food, and spreading word about the cause. Last year’s event brought in close to 2,400 pounds of food, which was the highest total received to date.

“We’re hoping to get somewhere near 3,000 pounds of food in this year’s scavenger hunt,” said Mike Hannan, president of the local chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, whose members volunteer to operate the pantry, which services about 90 families who have fallen on hard times.With a congregation of about 1,700 families, many of whom donate as often as once a week, the pantry has become a vital part of the parish’s charity operation.

“The outpouring of donations from the parish has been overwhelming and it really speaks to the character of our congregation and their desire to help those less fortunate,” Hannan said.

Open on Tuesday and Fridays to anyone in need, the pantry offers many vital supplies, from non-perishable food items, such as canned goods and cereal, to toiletries.

The Society, which is an international Catholic humanitarian organization made up of lay men and women looking to do charity work, also operates many other generous donations in the parish year-round, including coat drives and Thanksgiving and Christmas events that make the holidays more enjoyable for those struggling.

“We’re not a government social agency,” Hannan said, “but we do try to give food and we also have expanded where we can get those who need clothes or furniture what they need by sending them to thrift stores sponsored by the Society, where they can purchase what they need and have the bill sent to the parish.”

Those interested in participating in the scavenger hunt by donating items may leave them in a bag on their front steps to be picked up by volunteers on March 31 between 1 and 3 p.m.