Good Morning.  I hope everyone has had a pleasant summer.  As we prepare for the 2007-08 season, we have to address the problem of the closet inventory.  With the increased number of clients, it has become harder and harder to keep the closet filled.  Obviously, we all want to do the very best for our client families, but we have to remember that another member is coming in right after us to service their clients.  Please help share the food resources equably.  We will discuss this issue further at our meeting.
 
Lou and Roseann Malagrino, SVDP Members here and in Florida, work very hard in both locations doing many different jobs.  I asked Roseann to write the article below to explain how  "My Brother's Keeper" food pantry operates in Florida:
 
My Brother's Keeper - Florida
A ministry to care for people experiencing difficulties in life.
 
Parishioners bring food to church one Sunday a month.  Other sources of food come from donated money and a central warehouse where supermarkets donate their dented, damaged and overstocked goods.  This is our largest supplier.  Each Monday we are given 24 to 48 banana boxes of food.  Although, we never know what we will get, this donation is a Godsend.  Once a month we get government food.  Recently, Panera's restaurant donates bread once a week.
 
Our major clients are migrant workers of Hispanic descent.  Families average 50 to 150 per week with the average family size being a family of 4.  In one week, we can feed up to 600 people.  No one is turned away but we do have requirements for our patrons:  all must have a valid ID and each client is allowed to return 13 times per calendar year.
 
On Monday morning, we pick up food and stock the shelves.  The building is open on Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Friday morning from 10:00 AM to Noon.  We have a bilingual person who checks in the clients, a person that makes sure that id's are in order and 3 other people who fill the orders.  Any extra helpers fill rice and beans in baggies.  All workers help to empty the truck, stock the shelves, pick up donations from the church and keep the building clean.
 

My Brother's Keeper prepares bags of food for those in need.  A typical food issue for a family of four is:
 
2 pounds of rice                       2 pounds of dry beans
4 cans of soup                         2 cans of fruit
4 cans of green vegetables         2 cans of tomatoes
1 pound of pasta                       box of cereal                  
1 pound of coffee                     juice 
bread/cake                              milk / Parmalat
 
Extras such as candy, cracker, paper towels, toilet paper and meat are given when available.
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Roseann, thank you so much for such an informative article.  Also, thanks to Roseann and to Lou for putting our school supplies in order.
 
Lastly, I hope all will come to our meeting on September 12 at 7 PM in St. Columba Convent Meeting Room.  We need YOUR input.
 
IMPORTANT BREAKING NEWS:  The closet will be closed the evening of September 17 (Monday) and all day September 18 (Tuesday) so that the hall and closet floor can be painted.  Please schedule around these days.