Tracy Kraft, Parish Manager
Give us a little history about the Corpus Christi Emergency Food Pantry
Over 30 years ago, the parishioners of Corpus Christi, in thanksgiving for the many blessings they had received in their life, started the Corpus Christi Emergency Food Pantry. They have been supporting this ministry to our community ever since and continue to contribute to the pantry through monetary donations or nonperishable food items. Corpus Christi’s food pantry is a small community pantry whose goal is simply to reach out to others in an effort to share some of what we have received. Our goal is to provide at least one hearty meal each day for a week for families that come to us for assistance. We also provide specialty baskets around the holidays, complete with all of the trimmings.
How are you different from other food pantries?
At Corpus Christi, all are welcome, and this vision extends to the work that we do in our food pantry. Our mission is not to provide weekly assistance to families, as there are many wonderful organizations in our community that are much better equipped to provide a full range of assistance to help families get back on their feet and thrive. We can, however, be a place people can turn to when they are at a loss as to how they will put food on the table that day. We can be a place that people can come to in times of emergency to find support, encouragement, and hope.
How can people contact you for help?
We take calls from people requesting assistance every Monday and Thursday morning. There are no qualifications that need to be met to receive a food basket. All we need is some basic identifying information such as name, address, and phone number. We also ask for the names and ages of the people to be fed so we can tailor the boxes that we prepare to the needs and desires of the family members.
How can people donate?
Our food pantry has always been completely funded through the generous monetary donations of our parish members as well as through their donations of nonperishable items. In addition, the church organizes periodic Food Pantry Sundays as well as special drives like our Thanksgiving Food Drive and Lenten Almsgiving Drive; however, the need for assistance seems to have grown exponentially over the last few years. This is why we are so grateful for the support that we have received through outside donations from a variety of individuals and organizations that have offered to assist us in providing this important ministry to people in our community.
What are your needs right now if someone would like to donate?
If anyone wishes to donate to our food pantry, they can bring their nonperishable items to the upper gathering space of the church and place them in our wheelbarrow any time. Monetary donations can be dropped off at the church office or mailed with a note specifying the funds be used for the work of the food pantry. Some of the staple items that are always needed include cereal, peanut butter, pancake mix and syrup, pasta and sauce, rice, soups, and canned fruits and vegetables.
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