By Nicole Falco
One of the main functions of Parish Outreach is its pantry, which helps feed about 90 families living in the parish. Blessed Sacrament Parish Social Ministries also runs a pantry, which helps feed about 80 families in its parish.
Parishioners and local businesses, schools, organizations, churches and synagogues have regularly made food and monetary donations to keep the pantry shelves stocked. The pantries also receive state grants and donations from Long Island Cares. But as quick as the shelves are stocked, the food is needed to fill a basket or box for delivery to a family in need. Though they are already giving of their time and energy, many volunteers will not hesitate to reach into their pockets as well.
While it seems as though the pantries have all year to stock up for the holidays, when baskets are delivered for Thanksgiving and Christmas, they are actually year-round operations that generously donate food to needy families on a monthly basis. Still, the need for donations is never more apparent than during the holidays, and both pantries are ramping up for Christmas. Besides food baskets, each family will also receive gifts, mostly donated by parishioners from the churches.
"This time of year [the number of families] is increasing," said Sue Hoch, president of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society at Holy Name of Mary. "It seems like we have a lot of food now, but it goes very fast. People living here don't realize it - what we refer to as the hidden poor. If we don't get donations of food, then we buy the food, and right now our treasury is low."
Hoch and about 60 other members of Saint Vincent de Paul help run the pantry, sorting, organizing and delivering food, alongside Parish Outreach volunteers and Sister Margie Kelly, who has run the program for more than 20 years. Hoch speculates that rising heating costs could force more families, particularly seniors, to seek help.
"A lot of people cry when they see you," said John Owens, a member of Saint Vincent de Paul who helps deliver the baskets.
Another member, John Maher, added, "Some people wait outside for you to come."
Social Ministries and Family Services at Blessed Sacrament fall under the direction of Judy Miccio. "I can't keep food on the shelves, that's how many people are coming in," she said. And she expects the number of families in need of support to increase as Christmas approaches. "Last-minute families will get gift cards, and we always try to keep extra gifts around in closets and all over the place just in case that happens."
Miccio said she couldn't do it without the 45 or so volunteers who work in the pantry and church thrift shop. And she is quick to point to the overwhelming generosity of the community, while at the same time realizing that people have been asked to give so much this year, between the tsunami in south Asia and Hurricane Katrina. That's why Miccio makes a point of noting how valuable the Blessed Sacrament Thrift Shop is. All the money earned from sales at the thrift shop directly benefits Social Ministries.
Volunteers from both parishes said they view helping the community as God's work, and a way of giving back. "Volunteering just gives you great satisfaction," explained Claire Piemonte, who, with her husband, Billy, runs the Blessed Sacrament Thrift Shop.
"I wanted to help people, to help the church out," said Joan DiCandia. She volunteers in the thrift shop, and her husband, Dominick, helps deliver the food baskets as a member of the Holy Name Society.
Others realize it could easily be they who might need help. "We've gone through bad times ourselves, when we were younger," said Angie Bonfiglio, who volunteers in Blessed Sacrament's food pantry. "We're just hoping to make it easier for the younger generations that are struggling."
Joe Rau, a Saint Vincent de Paul volunteer at Holy Name of Mary, had a similar thought. "You never know when you're going to need the help in the future," he said.
Volunteers say they are in awe of one another and the generosity of the community. "I've been in a lot of groups, but never any one like this one," Maher said. "People are very good with their time and talents."
Of the community, Bonfiglio said, "It's amazing how each week people donate more and are willing to donate more food so that we are able to make the baskets a little fuller for the holidays."
Beyond feeding families, Social Ministries and Parish Outreach will also help a family pay its utility bills, rent or mortgage, if needed, and help families apply for social services. Help is not limited to members of the parish, but rather is available to all those in need in the community regardless of their religion.
Because the holidays will come and go but the need for donations will remain, the pantries are always accepting donations. For more information about volunteering, to make a donation or to inquire about receiving assistance, call Holy Name's Parish Outreach at (516) 825-0177 or Blessed Sacrament's Social Ministries at (516) 561-8969.
Comments about this story? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
