Spring 2021 Update
Dear Friends,
As we came into Holy Week 2021, we were not able to do some of the traditions we would normally do in our parishes but our priests and Bishop Talley gave us the hope and encouragement that God loves us and wants us to love our neighbors.
There was one Holy Thursday that I remember at the food mission when we were serving inside and guests collected in the chapel before going into the dining room. I believe it was Sister Regina and Sister Jeanine along with Becky who organized a washing of the feet with our guests who bravely stepped up to volunteer. We played meditative music as we carefully removed the shoes and socks to wash and dry those tired and unkept feet with tears in our eyes and overwhelming sense of gratefulness in our hearts.
Those whose feet were being washed, those neighbors sitting in the pews observing and the daily volunteers all prayerfully watching were all brought closer together in that moment knowing that God's love was all around us and his arms were embracing us. This is a moment and a vision I will never forget.
Hope you all had a wonderfully blessed Holy Week and Easter. Let's continue to give our best to God by showing love and mercy, working for justice, having compassion and for peace and non-violence in our daily lives..
Easter Sunday was very quiet and extremely slow. Thanks be to God that people had some money in their pockets or a place to go. Those who did come were very appreciative and it was a beautiful God given day for all.
How blessed are we?
We have some wonderful regular volunteers, lots from Volunteer Odyssey who are now permanent volunteers and new young people continue to engage with our St. Vincent de Paul Food Mission.
A sweet lady named Rondi comes by once a week and drops off frozen hamburger patties and frozen pizzas. Eliot uses these as a back up when the crowds are larger than normal. She also regularly invites Eliot over for dinner with her family. Eliot says they are all just great people.
A fellow named Robert and his sweet family bring milk, butter and miscellaneous items just about every week.
Kirk from King Cotton has a large donation of hot dogs, sausages and lunch meats whenever we need them. And we thank Suzanne and Larry Busby for making those pickups. Cooking dogs and sausages on the grill are our guests favorite.
Mike Palazola drops by about once a week with a donation of fruits and vegetables.
Saturday or Sunday brings a member from Mrs. Raj's family loaded down with chips, fruit and grain bars and big cans of green beans.
Every weekend we get a Costo or Trader Joe's delivery from the Methodist Men's Group. Always a surprise and always welcomed. It can be fruit, produce, meat, desserts (yes 15 cakes at a time) that our guests just love.
We also receive dozens and dozens of farm fresh eggs weekly delivered by Tom Wilkinson and donated from the farm of Ms. Shirley Rhodes-McDonald. These are the best eggs you ever put in your mouth.
And now on to some images we want to share with you. Hang in there they are pretty cute and give you a good idea of what we serve and who is volunteering.
I don't get many pictures of our guests because I don't want to impose on their privacy. We always ask before we post.
Photos from Palm Sunday:
Eliot surprised guests with snow cones on Palm Sunday! Guests came sporting Tigers blue, with jokes to share. One guest said “Please take my picture; I am so blessed to be here today!”
Some other updates from around the Food Mission:
Thank you and God Bless you for taking the time to look at all these pictures.
You keep praying for our food mission and we will keep you in our prayers.