By TARA CONNOLLY Staff writer
One of the many local projects and services funded with Diocesan Poverty Relief grants will help struggling parents and families with baby food and cereal in Schuylkill County.
St. John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua was awarded a $5,000 grant through the fund, which is made possible through a special annual second collection that will be held at Masses the weekend of Nov. 16-17.
The parish began developing the ministry last fall after Father John Frink, pastor, and other parishioners became aware of the financial burden families encounter when purchasing baby food and cereal for infants.
After meeting with members from the nearby Zion Lutheran Church, Tamaqua, who operate a “diaper depot,” the parish began planning the ministry with Zion Lutheran.
“It’s nice to work together to better our community. We followed their lead, and they have been a huge help to us,” said Anna Mary Maura, parishioner and volunteer for the ministry.
But the ministry had no funding until it applied for a Diocesan Poverty Relief grant that put the ministry in motion after the society was notified of the award.
Diocesan Poverty Relief grants support a wide range of local projects and services that alleviate and address poverty in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties.
Since May, the grant has allowed the society to purchase baby food and cereal through its local grocer, Boyer Food Market, Tamaqua, said Maura, a member of the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society, which spearheaded the ministry.
According to Maura, the society distributes brochures promoting the ministry for families in the Tamaqua Area School District or for families who attend the parish.
“After we get the number registered, we then shop for all of those people. We go to Boyer’s, and they’ve been fantastic. We go shop for the people and they package it up for us, and we distribute it here,” she said.
The initial month of the ministry saw a modest request for baby food and cereal, but by October, requests had risen six-fold – largely in part due to the 24.9 to 42.9 percent of children under age 5 falling below the poverty rate in the region.
“The grant has been a big help to families, and the ministry has brought more parishioners together,” said Maura.
Families served by the ministry include a young woman with twins, couples with multiple children, and grandparents who foster or have custody of grandchildren.
Aside from the baby food ministry, SVDPS also extends assistance to other people facing financial difficulties and poverty.
“If people call us and need assistance for groceries or utility bills … we’ve helped with that,” said Marge Menconi, recording secretary for the ministry. “If somebody calls for help that needs food, we would shop for them and then deliver the groceries to their house.”
The ministry takes place the third Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. and is by appointment only. Registration can be emailed to [email protected] or by phone at 570-225-8620. Requests must be made at least three days before the distribution on the third Saturday.
