Food pantries: Protecting the most vulnerable

By Patricia O’Connell
CFP Correspondent

Help is still available for those people who rely upon food banks to eat.
The coronavirus presents a special challenge for some because they may not be able to go to a grocery store to buy what they need. In many places store shelves are empty. Also, people living paycheck-to-paycheck may not have the financial means to buy ahead.
Fortunately, help is still available – at the parish level.
On Wednesday, food was still being distributed by parish food banks and soup kitchens.
But special precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of infection, as a state of emergency has been declared in Massachusetts. The state of emergency was declared a week ago. But on Sunday, Gov. Charlie Baker expanded the restrictions, which include a ban on public gatherings of more than 25 people. Schools across the state are also closed.

St. Leo, Leominster

Father William E. Champlin, pastor of St. Leo Parish in Leominster, noted that with school being out it will increase the needs of local families who rely upon food banks.
“We’re very concerned right now because we know that with school being out for the next three weeks, a lot of children who normally eat breakfast and lunch at school will be missing those meals,” he explained.
The parish has a St. Vincent de Paul Society food bank, which would be distributing food.
Father Champlin said he and the parish volunteers were “expecting extra food traffic today (Monday) for the food pantry.”
“We will assist all the families who come today,” he added.
But extra measures will be taken to protect everyone, he said.
Normally, people come into the rectory to pick up their food. Now, he said, food will probably be delivered to people’s cars.

St. Paul’s Elder Outreach

Mavoureen Robert is director of St. Paul’s Elder Outreach at St. Paul Cathedral in Worcester.
She noted that services will continue, with a lot of modifications.
Her agency serves mostly seniors aged 60 and older in Worcester.
On the first business day after sweeping new guidelines were declared as part of the state of emergency, she said details were still being worked out.
Food deliveries would normally be left at the door. But this isn’t always possible, with the population she serves.
“With a lot of my population they can’t carry it in,” she explained. So she will need to bring the groceries into their homes and put them on the kitchen counter. She will do this wearing masks and gloves.
St. Paul’s Elder Outreach will also deliver medication to seniors in need. Ms. Robert says she will do the pickup from the pharmacy, as well as the delivery.
Ms. Robert has a small staff, but they will now be staying home. Instead, she will do all deliveries, with precautions.
Normally, a crew of volunteers does the food shopping for clients. Now, she says she will do it.
Ms. Robert said her agency is coordinating with the parish food pantry, which serves a wider range of age groups. She said her agency works with the food pantry, which will also deliver if there’s a real need.

Emergency food delivery

People anywhere in Worcester County needing emergency food (not an ongoing supply) can call 508-799-5009 and leave their name and address, said Deacon Walter F. Doyle of the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope.
He said people will be screened and he and other volunteers will deliver the food curbside.
“We don’t go in the house,” he said.
The delivery is in place of going to the Urban Missionaries’ food pantry at 242 Canterbury St., Worcester, or the food pantry at St. Paul’s on Chatham Street, both of which are closed, he said.

Take-out at St. John’s

Worcester’s St. John Parish on Temple Street serves a meal to those in need every morning at the St. Francis Xavier Center.
This will continue, with safety modifications.
Now, in order to comply with state regulations, no more than 25 people will be allowed in the building at the same time.
Father John F. Madden, pastor, said meals will be distributed mostly on a take-out basis.

SOuthbridge parish

The food bank at St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge serves about 400 people a week, and this will continue, according to Father Kenneth R. Cardinale, pastor.
However, in order to keep everyone safe, clients can no longer shop for their food in the pantry. Instead, the parish is giving out bags of food, without having anyone but staff and volunteers inside the building, he said.
Donations continue to come into the busy food pantry. And the crisis has brought out the best in people, he said.
“I had somebody who never donated before. He heard something in the news and rolled up yesterday with hundreds of pounds of canned goods,” Father Cardinale said.

Mustard Seed

“In the interest of the safety of our guests and the community, the Mustard Seed is making changes,” said an email from the soup kitchen at 93 Piedmont St. in Worcester.
Takeout dinners are being provided outside from 5:30-6:30 p.m. each weekday.
 Volunteers can arrive at 5 p.m. to help set up and serve, or at 6:15 p.m. to help clean up.
“We are in frequent communication with the Department of Public Health, and this plan will change as the COVID-19 situation changes,” says the email.
The Mustard Seed was also looking for volunteers.
“We could very much use your help as a volunteer, but, if you are feeling ill, please stay home and say a prayer for everyone facing homelessness, hunger, unemployment, and sickness in these tough times.”
Questions can be directed to Michael Benedetti at 508-499-9638.

– Tanya Connor, CFP reporter, contributed to this report.