Youth Group Visits to Help Out

School is out for summer and the St Anthony's Youth Group was at the pantry to help out. Their support is very much appreciated. They all have amazing energy and enthusiasm.

Your help would be appreciated as well. Please feel free to stop in any Thursday and see for yourself what is happening, it may inspire you to participate in some way. May God Bless You.

Generous Supporters and Dedicated Volunteers

From June 2010 thru May 2011 the Food Pantry has given out 40,309 bags of groceries and served 10,211 lunches! This would not have been possible without the generous donations of many persons here at Saint Anthony's and at other nearby parishes such as St. Mary’s, St. John Neumann, St Francis, St. John’s and Our Lady of Fatima. This would also not have been possible without the 700 volunteer hours a month it takes to keep the pantry running.

Hot Time, Almost Summer in the City

Though it's not quite summer here in New Bedford it sure has been warm. In spite of the heat the pantry volunteers and visitors still have time to smile. For yesterday's visitors the pantry had cereal, assorted canned goods, lowfat or whole milk, juice, bratwurst or sausage, crackers, potato salad, onions, potatoes, eggs as well as a good lunch served with ice tea.

Please feel free to come by any Thursday to help out, even for an hour or two, you can make a difference. Please remember that we are no longer accepting any used items. You can bring your used clothing and household donations directly to Planet Earth, Savers or Gifts for Giving. Empty egg cartons and used plastic bags are always needed and of course any non perishable items you may have to spare are always appreciated.

Thanks again for all you do to help. And please stop by the pantry booth this weekend during the St. Anthony Feast.

Many Hands Lighten the Burden

Many hands certainly do lighten the burden and we had the benefit of many, many hands helping last Thursday at the pantry. Students from Bishop Stang High School joined with our regular volunteers and their family members to serve more than 300 persons. Thank you to all.

March Report

On the five Thursdays that the pantry was open during the month of March we provided 3,496 bags of groceries to 874 families that included 674 children. During March we also served more than 964 meals.

At the beginning of March we started the 2011 Feinstein One Million Dollar Challenge and we will be participating in the Challenge through April 30; all donations received during that time period are counted to give us a proportionate share in the money.

Thank you again to the many people who support the pantry either through donations or by volunteering.

Prince Henry Society Brotherhood Award

Last week the Prince Henry Society of New Bedford awarded Paula and Arnie Briden their Brotherhood Award in recognition of the great work our parish food pantry has done.

Upon receiving the award both Paula and Arnie graciously acknowledged that what is being accomplished at the pantry is only possible because of the hard work of all of the volunteers and they accepted the award on behalf of everyone who helps. Father Landry reiterated this in stating that the award was "Not only a tribute to the commitment of Paula and Arnie, but to all those who collaborate with them to make our food pantry do so much good. Congratulations to Arnie and Paula and to all the volunteers at our parish food pantry."

Father Landry also expressed gratitude to the Prince Henry Society "for bringing the hard work of our food pantry to the attention of all its members in this way".

CCD Volunteers at Pantry to Help

CCD students from St Anthony's as well as other student volunteers were on hand this Thursday to help with food preparation and food distribution for the many people who visited the pantry. The efforts of those who chose to use some of their vacation time to work at the pantry is a strong testimony to the caring character of these young people. Wherever you might have looked Thursday the students could be seen - eagerly gathered to speak with Father Landry; rapidly wheeling dollies and handtrucks loaded with potatoes, carrots, onions, yogurt, eggs, milk, cereal, tofu, lettuce; carefully bagging produce; happily making and serving lunches; and, of course, tirelessly distributing food.







With the many students on hand to help, several of our regular volunteers even had a few minutes just before the pantry opened to share some laughter and pose for a group photo.


The student volunteers that come to the pantry are a great help and are greatly appreciated when they are available but we do very much depend on the hard work done by our regular volunteers to keep the pantry going each and every week. Thank you all.

Pantry Winter Storm Policy

During this snowy wintry season, we have had to cancel the food pantry on a couple of occasions because of the parking ban as well as the danger to volunteers and those seeking food of getting to the food pantry despite the ice and snow. Rather than having people wonder about whether the food pantry is open (for those who don’t listen to the radio, call the rectory or visit the web site), we’ve decided upon the policy that when school is canceled in New Bedford, the food pantry will be closed.

Hopefully the worst of the winter storms are done for this season and the pantry will be open each Thursday.

February Food Deliveries

Upcoming food delivery dates and times for this month are Tuesday February 8 at 12:15, Wednesday February 9 at 1:15, Wednesday February 16 at 1:15, and Wednesday February 23 at 3:15.

Unloading and storing the cases of food and produce received in these deliveries is vital to the operation of the Saint Anthony Food Pantry. We can always use extra help with these tasks. If you are available at any of the delivery times for the month of February, or at the food distribution times on Thursdays, let us know by calling Paula, the Food Pantry Coordinator, at 508-993-1691.

Please note that you can check for upcoming deliveries and other pantry activity by looking at our calendar here or using the link under "Basic Pantry Information" in the menu on the right.

Happy New Year and Many Thanks

Total volunteer hours at the pantry for 2010 were 6,955 hrs or approximately 134 hours each week. Thank you. We appreciate everything volunteers and donors did last year and are looking forward to a continuing partnership with our many friends and helpers in 2011.

Recent weather in southern New England has made getting about difficult but the people who visit the pantry are still very much in need of help. Some specific items we are looking for at the pantry include plastic bags, soup, cereal and peanut butter. Toilet paper is also still asked for each week.

Please note that we are no longer accepting any used items or clothing.

Snow! Pantry Closed this Week

Food distribution scheduled for Thursday January 13 has been canceled due to snow conditions in New Bedford. We will be open next week for food distribution.

The food delivery originally scheduled for Wednesday January 12 at 1:15 has been rescheduled to Thursday January 13 at 1:15.

January Food Deliveries

Upcoming food delivery dates and times are Tuesday January 11 at 12:15, Wednesday January 12 at 1:15, Wednesday January 19 at 1:15, and Wednesday January 26 at 3:15.

Unloading and storing the cases of food and produce received in these deliveries could be an excellent opportunity to put a New Year's resolutions into practice. If you are available at any of the delivery times for the month of January, or at the food distribution times on Thursdays, let us know by calling Paula, the Food Pantry Coordinator, at 508-993-1691.

Please note that you can check for upcoming deliveries and other pantry activity by looking at our calendar here or using the link under "Basic Pantry Information" in the menu on the right.

Merry Christmas ...

We had almost 350 families, which included 281 children, come through the pantry on Thursday ... and there were 50 volunteers helping with the distribution of food, blankets and gifts; helping with the preparation of lunch; helping with registration; and helping with the many other tasks that needed to be done. Everything went smoothly and we were cleaning up the hall by 2:15.

Once again we are deeply grateful for the generosity of those who contributed food, blankets, gifts and more. Thank you and God bless you.