Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
FIRST SATURDAY STREET MINISTRY:
N
oon rolls around, and your gut starts growling. Whether you head out the door to grab a take-out lunch or pull together a bite from the fridge, it’s usually not long before you satisfy the angry stomach rumbles. Many people aren’t so lucky. Here in our community, on the first Saturday of each month, a faithful group of parishioners works together with the Sisters and Friars of the Poor of Jesus Christ to provide food for those in need. “I think of this ministry as feeding the souls and tummies of the most vulnerable in our community,” says parishioner Stacey Foster, who has been involved with this project since shortly after its inception five years ago. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were several different ways that people could serve, including
6
donating food, preparing sack lunches, and delivering meals to those in need. The ministry serves those living on the streets, as well as those unable to afford the food they need. Since the pandemic, the role of volunteers has changed, with parishioners being asked to bring completed meal bags, which the Sisters and Friars then deliver to those in need. Currently, this effort has been halted to ensure the safety of all involved. In the past, Thanksgiving and Christmas were also opportunities for volunteers to prepare food, as well as celebrate alongside those in need, with games and music. However, for Thanksgiving this year, the volunteers provided desserts that the sisters and friars put into to-go boxes to deliver to those in need. For Christmas,
