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OLP parish gives back to community

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Lynbrook residents looking for ways to give back to their community this holiday season — and beyond — can find a way to do just that through the Our Lady of Peace Parish Social Ministry.

Our Lady of Peace’s Parish Social Ministry runs a number of year-round programs aimed at helping local families and individuals in need. A food pantry is open at the parish on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sister Barbara Faber, head of Social Ministry at the parish for over nearly three years, said the holidays always seem to bring out the generous sides of donors.

“I hesitate to say this, because I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea, but right now our food pantry is pretty much full,” she said. “Our shelves really aren’t empty and there isn’t much we need. Around this time of year, our parishioners and donors are very generous. We could always use more donations and are still accepting them, but right now, we have more than we need.”

After holidays pass however, Faber said the food pantry often struggles to supply visitors with items they need.

“After the holidays are over and people have to return to their day-to-day lives, that’s when our supplies begin to dwindle,” Faber said. “In January and February, our shelves can sometimes be bare, but its still winter out there and people still need help getting food and providing for their families. I’d say that if people really want to make an impact here at our food pantry, that’s the time to donate.”

Parishioners have also shown their generosity during the church’s annual “giving tree” gift drive. Donors pick a paper angel off a small Christmas tree in the church with information about an individual they are supposed to purchase a gift for. They are then asked for buy gift cards and return them to the church so they can be distributed.

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