Each parish is unique so “Should every parish…” is a nonstarter…I mean, should a parish in a highly affluent neighborhood have a local food pantry? Another aspect is hours of operation, volunteers to staff etc…
That said, I think that if the need can be seen and a church (or churches) properly located are willing and able, then yes it is a very good idea and the wealthier parishes should seek to support such efforts.
Also, as a previous poster mentioned “efficiency” is important and I think that is often a driving factor in how the various services are set up. Depending on the size of the city and the needs and the locations of the churches etc…It is often best to utilize groups for whom this is their charism…such as SVDP and others. They often know best.
Peace
James
**
I do humbly pray it is never a “non starter” to wonder if any parish, “highly affluent” or not, might remember the poor, no matter how elegant their own accommodations.
My heart goes out to all the workers riding buses to the elegant homes in these “highly affluent neighborhoods.” Housekeepers, maids, poorly- paid part- time lawn workers (often with English as a second language as yet another challenge,) traveling to and from work each day. Their own poor neighborhoods often cannot afford to provide either food pantries or soup kitchens, and so, many workers and their families draw up at the end of the day to a bleak, bare table and empty cupboards.
Thousands of precious children in this country go to bed hungry each night. I pray it is not considered a “non starter” to wonder if all parishes might find it in their hearts, might be inspired, to grace their elegant territory with an island of hope provided by a food pantry or meal.
I like to think of the worker, heading to the bus stop, finding either a lovingly prepared meal in this affluent area, or a bag of groceries from a church run pantry to take along on his ride home. There may be nothing but more poverty in his own neighborhood to greet him. Geography, land, estates, all belong to the God of love and compassion. Perhaps He might inspire us to think outside the box a little. I do pray so.
Buses are full of workers going back and forth from meager dwellings to these highly affluent neighborhoods. Dotting the travel space in between the two areas with parish- run food pantries or soup kitchens would be a most welcome supplement to the worker’s meager incomes. The workers own poorer neighborhoods can rarely afford to offer alternatives. Why not meet them where they can, and offer help in the very parishes that can better afford it?
If these highly affluent people would look outside their well appointed vehicles as they pass by, they might venture to notice trailer parks or low income housing dotting the outskirts of their lovelier neighborhoods. They would see all the buses connecting the “haves” to the “have nots.”
I know of one such neighborhood in CT., which surprisingly, has as many Thrift Stores as some run down, urban areas across the country, as well as a food pantry, none of which was set up for the benefit of the wealthy residents. Their house workers see the food pantry and Thrift Store as they go to and from work, and are grateful for them. They can stop off for a hot meal, or gather together a bag of groceries that will feed their family a few days longer. Our hearts should break at the thought of anyone suffering a lack of food, especially a hungry child waiting at home and counting on his parent, whose wages are never enough to sustain them properly.
Efficiency is fine, but I admire the poster who commented on* the more personal touch *of providing parish- run food pantries and soup kitchens in addition to helping stock the efficiently- run, larger food banks.
Perhaps, as someone who has experienced homelessness and hunger first hand, and has worked in these great homes for very little pay while raising a child, it’s only natural that I might feel that large city or government- run food pantries may not have the spiritual aspect and human touch so lacking in those larger, efficiently- run programs. We certainly need both, but how lovely to have that human touch. Someone seeing Christ in the face of every homeless, hungry person, how beautiful to set aside such a sacred space?
The beginnings and ends of months are such a challenge, when bills are paid or due, and cupboards are bare. How lovely, after a hard days work to find a friendly human being setting out a meal, one that would not be awaiting them at home, or to retrieve a bag of groceries to feed their children when the alternative scene awaiting them is so achingly bleak?
I pray that it was not a non- starter to ask if every parish might think of our poorer brethren, no matter how elegant their own lawns, no matter the temporal differences in status that may cause some to want to separate human kind into geographical categories.
I think the angels must long to see arms extended in prayer and offerings of aid to the “least among us” and cannot help but “start” a discussion of compassion, no matter where it may lead or however love may inspire us to act.**
:angel1:**With all the hunger in this country, are stocking the local (city sponsored) food pantries enough or should each parish do more in their individual neighborhoods?
A nice combination of all: stocking large food banks, as well as food pantries and soup kitchens in all kinds of places would reach more people in distress
