Compassion During Lent

St Rose of Lima parishioners displayed their compassion for those less fortunate by contributing generously on the weekend of March 27–28 to the annual St Rose Lenten food drive.

Parishioners were reminded in the weeks leading up to the collection that their help would help others. Donations were sought in a number of categories including Urgent Food Items (cereal, canned vegetables, soup, powdered and evaporated milk, pasta and sauce, condiments, coffee, etc), personal hygiene items, miscellaneous (toilet tissue, paper plates, plastic spoons and forks) and even “luxury” items like cookies, cookie and brownie mix, crackers, cake mix and frosting, pancake mix and syrup, pudding, quick bread mix, sugar and peanut butter.

Bags and boxes were dropped off by members of the St Rose parish. These donations were added to contributions from Super Stop & Shop, Big Y and Caraluzzi’s Food Markets, and then during the following week parishioners who needed a hand filling their pantry were invited to go “shopping” in the parish garage/mini supermarket.

Then on Saturday, April 4, after a week of sorting and packaging, more food, hygiene items, cleaning supplies and supermarket gift certificates were distributed to FAITH Food Pantry, Newtown Social Services, St Charles Outreach Program, Dorothy Day House, Thomas Merton House, Spooner House, Daughters of Charity, Interfaith AIDS Ministry, St Peter’s and Shelter of the Cross.

The drive was organized by the St Rose of Lima Social Services Committee with the support of the Knights of Columbus, St Rose youth and parish volunteers.