Parish's new pantry goes 'takeout,' delivering food to area poor

Published: 2005-01-10

PATERSON, N.J. (CNS) -- No room or not enough staff at your parish for an eat-in soup kitchen? To feed the poor in its neighborhood, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Paterson solved space and personnel limitations by going "takeout" -- opening a food pantry that delivers much-needed groceries right to clients' doorsteps. On a chilly December morning, the parish dedicated its new pantry -- called Marianna's Cupboard -- which will provide food hassle-free to the hungry poor it serves. Clients fill out a simple application, after which pantry staff members visit their homes to determine whether they can help the families with other needs. Then, twice monthly, the parish's Knights of Columbus will deliver the food to the clients' homes. "A food delivery service allows these parish families the privacy they deserve and also benefits those who are disabled, elderly or have young children," said Father Donald Sella, Our Lady of Lourdes' pastor, of the new pantry. "We need to treat the needy with reverence and dignity." The pantry's shelves are stocked with bread, cereal, rice, pasta, tea and other items. A new refrigerator holds perishable items such as milk. The new facility, in a refurbished building, replaces the pantry the parish ran in the church basement.

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