Feinstein Million Dollar Give-a-Way Update

Thank you for your generosity in supporting our taking part in the national Feinstein Million Dollar Give-a-Way for food pantries in 2010. This year we have earned a total of 25,720 points ... this is more than double the 12,00 points we earned last year ... and more than six times the 4,085 points we earned in 2006 when we first began participating in the Feinstein Give-a-Way. We are waiting now to learn what the pantry's dollar allocation will be.

April Report

April was another busy month. On the five Thursdays that the pantry was open this April we provided 6,156 bags of groceries to help a total of 1,539 clients from 794 households ... 745 of those we helped were children under the age of 18. And we still average 30 new families a week seeking help!

Every item donated goes to help someone. A can of tuna, a jar of peanut butter or a can of soup can make the difference between someone going to bed hungry or not. Thank you for each and every donation.

Pots and Pans

During the last 12 months, from the end of April 2009 through April 2010, the pantry at Saint Anthony's has served over 9,000 lunches … that's a lot of food, a lot of cooking … and a lot of scrubbing pots and pans. Yes, we are very appreciative of the generosity of the people who've given donations that make our lunch program possible, and certainly we are most grateful for the hard work of the people who helped prepare the 9,634 lunches served but we are also especially thankful for the young men and women from the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC) who over the last four years have supported our lunch program by washing and drying the many, many pots, pan and utensils that were used to make our lunches. Their tireless and dependable contribution over the lengthy time they have worked with us, though it goes largely unseen by visitors to the pantry, has been vitally important to our lunch program and to the community. This last week the team from SMEC included Lynn, Amy, and Megan along with Heather, Jeffry, Jen, Jordan and Ed. When asked about why he volunteers at the pantry Jeffry paused briefly from washing a pan and answered that he did this because the pantry folk are "wonderful people". Jeff's praise of the other volunteers at the pantry is great to hear … he and the others from SMEC are "wonderful" as well … and there are always opportunities at the pantry for even more "wonderful people".

Upcoming St. Lukes Mobile Health Van Visit

On May 20, 2010 the St. Luke's Mobile Health Van will be here at the pantry. Nurses will be available to check blood pressures, do cholesterol screenings, and take blood sugar readings.