Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On Tuesday of this week, I participated in a routine site visit from Episcopal Charities to the Sloatsburg Food Pantry. For a number of years now, the food pantry has been the recipient of generous grants from Episcopal Charities, and they come around periodically to do their due diligence in seeing how the institutions they support are operating.
The representative was truly impressed by the level of organization, efficiency, and dignity with which so many people are served. Also of note were the number of volunteers from St. Mary's as well as our financial commitment to the cause of alleviating hunger in our community. As you probably know, the food pantry fills an enormous need in our area, serving families from Tuxedo down to Suffern. We now have signs and recipes in three languages: English, Spanish, and Russian!
In addition to all that, I felt proud of the way that the food pantry truly connects our community across all lines. We have quite a few outstanding organizations here, both inside and outside the church which strengthen the community in their own ways, such as understanding the importance of conservation, literacy training, and public safety, to name just a few. But when you get down to it, being hungry is something that everyone can understand, and helping those in need is the obvious choice. From the Orange Top Diner which stores our eggs, to Hayward's Deli which keeps our milk cold (and donates the significant amount of change which customers toss into a fish bowl), to the volunteers who drive around the region to pick up supplies, the food pantry is an example of American community at its best.
Thank you for your past and continued support of this vital ministry. And always keep in mind the words of Jesus when he said, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat... That which you do to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you do unto me."
Father Rick
