Food Pantry

Groceries were distributed to approximately 35 families each week, roughly 48 weeks this year, for a total of 1575 households receiving groceries for 2007. Each basic bag contains flour, rice, pasta, dried beans, three canned vegetables, one canned fruit, tomato sauce, tuna, peanut butter, soup and margarine. Additional items are often added as available from Roadrunner Food Bank, such as, bread, cereal, yogurt, meat, eggs, fresh vegetables, etc. Sugar we provide every other month. The estimated value of each food bag is $26.00, including additional items.

Recipients are Albuquerque area residents who are periodically screened to make sure that they are in the lowest of economic brackets of our community. Food Pantry clients include out of work individuals, retirees, those with disability income, welfare recipients, food stamp recipients, the working poor, laid off or injured workers. Some of the Food Pantry clients receive Food Pantry support on a monthly basis while others only occasionally. In 2006 we had a total of 356 active clients on the Food Pantry records. Of that total, families with children represented 41%, seniors 18% (6% are grandparents raising grandchildren), single parents 11%, and clients with disabilities represent 19%. Because of the timing and short notice of the 2007 annual report, we did not conduct any research to update figures for 2007. We assume everything is roughly the same.

Approximately 25 volunteer hours per week are required to run the Food Pantry. Our volunteers are very dedicated, answering the phone, sacking groceries, working at distribution, shopping or making the monthly schedules.

We would like to thank the St. John Thrift Shop, without whose generous support we would not be able to take care of our needy families. Sara Kelton graciously continues to help the Food Pantry every Monday with the client phone sign-ups and translation assistance.

Angel Tree Project

During the Holiday season of 2007, the Food Pantry decided to serve sixty-four needy families and supply them with food and gifts for the Christmas season. As in the past, parishioners donated food, gifts, time and money to the project. The “Wrap and Sort” evening prior to the distribution of food and gifts was a great success. Families wrapped presents, sorted, labeled gift tags etc. This was the sixth year that the Thrift Store contributed a gift to each family’s box—a $25 gift certificate. Another big thanks to the Thrift Store for this successful addition. The Angel Tree Project continues to be a major success and moving experience for the Cathedral family. The Food Pantry will continue this program in 2008.

Back to School Project

For the fifth year, the Food Pantry continued an ongoing relationship with our Angel families by providing school supplies for their children. With the contributions from our Cathedral family we were able to supply over 70 children with school supplies which included: notebooks, pens, pencils, glue sticks, markers, rulers scissors, supply pouches, etc. We plan to continue the Back to School Project in 2008.

Title One

In the fall of 2007 the APS Title I Homeless projects approached the Food Pantry. It was their hope that faith-based organizations would be able to help them with non-pershiable food for homeless students trying to stay in school. We were asked to provide 6-8 bags of non-perishable food a couple of times in the fall. The Cathedral parishoners response to this new project was overwhelming. We have provided almost three times the amount of food that we committed to. This will also be an ongoing project for the Food Pantry for 2008.