The next time you are in church, look at the family seated in front of you, behind you, to your left and to your right. Chances are, one of them will go to bed hungry.
This Lent, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden wants to change that somber fact and offer a helping hand to those who are food insecure. Their ninth annual FaithFULL food drive invites parishes, schools and individuals to collect non-expired foods to replenish parish food programs and the eight food pantries operated by Catholic Charities in the Diocese. On or about March 27, parishes will amass their contributions to be added to the total collection in the Diocese of Camden, and either keep the food locally or arrange with Catholic Charities for a future pickup.
Kevin Hickey, Catholic Charities’ executive director, detailed how the COVID pandemic impacted the program over the past three years.
“In 2019, a total of 67,491 pounds of food was collected by the parishes. In 2020, the drive was canceled due to COVID,” Hickey recalled. “In 2021, we switched to the present structure with parishes having the option to keep the food for their ministries or for community ministries they may be a part of locally. We estimate that 20,000 pounds of food was collected.”
The agency reported that, from March through December 2021 alone, CCDOC provided food to 20,000 food-insecure families including refugees, veterans, victims of house fires, low-income seniors, and those who lost employment and income due to COVID-19.
FaithFULL food drive organizers suggest donors give the gift of a complete meal this year by purchasing several items that complement each other (such as peanut butter and bread, spaghetti and sauce.) Other requested foods include, but are not limited to: pasta, rice, canned fruit, canned soups and broths, dried mashed potato and stuffing mixes, dried herbs and spices, pudding, and nutritious snacks.
Hickey noted, “All food items contribute to a versatile pantry.”
For more information, visit camdendiocese.org/FaithFULL or contact Rose Porcellini at rose.porcellini@camdendiocese.org, or 856-342-4104. Checks can be made out to Diocese of Camden, with “FaithFULL Food Drive” on the memo line, and mailed to Diocese of Camden, Office of Development, ATTN: FaithFULL, 631 Market Street, Camden, N.J., 08102.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
