Essential Workers Keep Ministry Thriving at St. Martin of Tours Food Pantry

Thanks to the faithful work of Sr. Marie Josee, DW, Social Ministry Director, and other essential workers at St. Martin of Tours in Amityville, NY, who are keeping the food pantry ministry thriving during this time of crisis. Food Pantries may not be the first thought on everyone’s mind when thinking of essential workers, but perhaps now, more than ever, the essential nature of this important ministry is apparent, as much needed nourishment for the body, as well as the spirit.

Sr. Marie Josee explained that she had been working four days a week, taking one day a week to rest, since she was working alone. That all changed last week, as Sr. Marie Josee explains. “However, God is good all the time, and last week He sent me some help with three strong, healthy, and dynamic women from the area. They help me with pre-packing the groceries based on family size, and they also put the food out for me. I am very grateful for their service.”

The community has come together in response to the increased need. Two food banks supply the St. Martin of Tours food pantry once a week, supported by the Amityville community and beyond, including donations from individuals and organizations such as St. Rose of Lima in Massapequa. Collectively, their generosity enables the food pantry to respond to those who come to them in need.  

With support from the new volunteers, the food pantry has expanded pick up days to include Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Mondays are now dedicated to paperwork and scheduling. The pantry also schedules on pick up days, as calls continue to come in. Social distancing guidelines are in place to help provide safer service. Families call when they arrive on-site and food is picked up from the parking lot. Pantry workers and families also wear protective gear.

 Says Sr. Marie Josee, “The need is big out there, as you can imagine…So far, so good and may it continue to be so, moving forward… We do our best and, with the grace of God, we keep it going.”

As a follow-up to this article, we asked Sr. Marie Josee if she could share some pictures, included below, and we received this update:

“It is amazing how Divine Wisdom works. I was not sure I would have a chance to send you anything today, but it happens that a grand-nephew of our dear late Sr. Mary Morrow, DW, organized a food drive with his two daughters and delivered a huge amount of food to our pantry. When he arrived, he asked me, ‘What order you belong to?’ I said, Daughters of Wisdom, and he said, ‘I am Sister Mary Morrow's nephew (second generation).’ I asked him if he would mind [taking] a picture with the family to send to you and he agreed. His name is Peter Anglim; he is a fire prevention officer from the Uniondale Fire District. His wife is a nurse. Small world! I knelt for the purpose of social distancing.”