The Food Pantry is a Ministry that provides food for families in the community who are experiencing a temporary need for assistance. St. Celestine's Alvernia Food Pantry is a service in the parish to help people in the neighborhood who come into an emergency and are in need of food.

Its staff are volunteers: Sister Joanne Treml - Manager, Ray Melnyk, Vicki Dalicandro and her grandaughter Annie, Gina Woods and son Jake, and Dorothy Vessini.

Families or persons may come once a month for food.

Hours are:

• The Food Pantry opens from 4 pm to 6 pm on the first three Mondays and the fifth Monday of the month.
• The Food Pantry is closed on the fourth Monday of the month. Service is on Tuesday from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm in this fourth week.

Call the Pastoral Center at 708-453-2555 for more information.

CANNED FOOD DRIVE DURING THE YEAR

"Blessed are you who are hungry, for you will be satisfied." - Luke 6: 21

As most of you are aware, in September of 1991 we opened the Alvernia Food Pantry here at St. Celestine. In cooperation with our Human Concerns Commission, Sr. Joanne Tremel has been providing food baskets to needy families in our area. Each month since 1991 we have been able to serve over fifty families on a regular basis; at times we served more families on an emergency one-time-only basis. With so many needs, keeping the shelves stocked has grown more difficult.

The needs of our community have gone up tremendously since September 11, 2001. The first two week of September we served over 100 families and needless to say, we ran out of food. This caused us to have to close the pantry for the rest of September to try and replenish it.

This is happening to many food pantries. At a meeting I attended for Leyden Township, we were told the same thing. They too have run out of food and have had to close their pantry at different times. So I am coming to you now to ask that you please help us.

We most certainly could use gift cards to Jewel, Dominicks, Super Low and Cub Foods.

We need to stock our food pantry. We are in need of canned soups and powdered soups, canned soup, boxes of dried pasta, hamburger helper mix, rice mixes, cereals, oatmeal, canned fruits or vegetables, canned meats, jars or cans of spaghetti sauces, peanut butter, jams and jellies.

If you are able to help us, please bring your items to church, rectory or food pantry. You can bring your items to church with you. If you would leave the bags of food in the Ushers Room, the food will then be taken to the Food Pantry on Mondays.

At a time when so many families, both young and old, are faced with rising costs and decreased or absent income, your generosity enabled us to continue to serve the needs of people in our own community through our food pantry. Let us express our gratitude by sharing our blessings with others.

Peace,
Barbara Mares - Pastor Associate