Food Pantry

Overall program description

Did you know there was a pantry at St. Edna?  It was started quite a while ago in an extra room at the end of the Hurley Center.  Several years later it moved to the room in the space between church and the Doherty Center.

Where does the food come from?

The pantries at St. James and here at St. Edna are stocked with food by you, the generous parishioners who donate food each month, often overfilling the “Food for the Hungry” box in the Narthex.

Thoughtful parishioners bring food regularly to the “Food for the Hungry” box in the Narthex…many people stop by after grocery shopping but before going home to drop off their donation bags.  All food donated on Sharing Sunday and during the week stocks the pantry at our sharing parish St. James AND the St. Edna pantry.  A dedicated group of pantry volunteers sort, stock and organize the shelves several times a week here as well as assist with packaging the food that is sent to St. James.

How does it help feed the hungry?

Much of the food donated on Sharing Sunday is sent to St. James, in Chicago, where more than 1500 families are served each month.  A dedicated group of volunteers load vehicles and drive food to St. James each month.

The food pantry is also used by the Outreach Ministers who assist those that come to St. Edna in need, several days each week (see the St Edna Outreach page for days and times).  The ministers find out what the food needs are for a client that comes in that particular day.  For example:

• Do they need food for just themselves or a family?
• Are children in the family?
• Are there special dietary needs?
• Is the client homeless and in need of ready-to-eat food?

The need for the food pantry at St. Edna has continued to grow and more than 50 families a month are regularly served.  We have also seen a sharp increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness who come to our doors in need.  As a result of the greater needs, the food pantry has been expanded and reorganized.  Additional shelving, labels, and areas for sorting have been added.  Parishioners, Chris and Joe Corbett have worked hard over the last year to redesign the food pantry and the way things are organized as well as the volunteer sign up method.