March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 49 F

St Mary’s Parish Donates over a 8,550 pounds of food to Light House Pantry

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The strong partnership between St. Mary’s Parish and The Light House started 25 years ago when St. Mary’s was one of a group of Annapolis churches that founded The Light House.  That partnership continues to this day and grows.

L to R Ed Cassidy, Light House Board, Michele Marshall, Light House, Elaine Larison, St Mary's Food Drive Coordinator, Dick Darcy, Light House Board,  Father Milton, St Mary's Parish, Pam Siemer, Director of Development Light House, Carol Drum, Light House, Sam Davies, Light House Volunteer
L to R Ed Cassidy, Light House Board, Michele Marshall, Light House, Elaine Larison, St Mary’s Food Drive Coordinator, Dick Darcy, Light House Board, Father Milton, St Mary’s Parish, Pam Siemer, Director of Development Light House, Carol Drum, Light House, Sam Davies, Light House Volunteer

The Light House mission to care for those in our community who are most in need is one of the goals of St. Mary’s and the Catholic Church.  Recently, St Mary’s helped stock The Light House pantry shelves with well over 8,550 pounds of donated non-perishable food items from the latest food drive.  Twice a year, a food drive is sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society at the church. The Society is a worldwide organization with the mission to serve the poor. The local chapter, called Conference, meets with clients at two designated times a week, to assist clients with emergency help and to mentor and support clients in their efforts to effect changes in their lives. The Conference also sponsors 500 families or seniors as part of the county’s Holiday Sharing Program.

Thanks to the work of many volunteers and the generous parishioners at St. Mary’s, the semi-annual food drives contribute a large volume of food to The Light House pantry. The August food drive totaled $28,500 in groceries, as well as cash donations. Each food drive starts with Graul’s Market donating empty grocery bags. Graul’s has been a long-time supporter of St. Mary’s and St. Vincent de Paul programs. The drive is conducted over two weekends:  the first weekend volunteers hand the empty bags, with a list of Light House requested items, to parishioners, the second weekend parishioners bring their filled bags to the church parking lots, where volunteers load the donations into their vehicles and transport to the Light House.

The entire, newly renovated Alumni Room at The Light House was filled with the grocery bags of food. In a short ceremony, Father Kevin Milton, of St. Mary’s, spiritual adviser to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, blessed the food, the volunteers who worked on the project, the parishioners who donated the groceries and the eventual recipients.

Pam Siemer, Director of Development at the Light House, accepted the food on behalf of The Light House and expressed gratitude. She spoke of the many ways St. Mary’s parishioners support The Light House.  She said, “The history of St. Mary’s generosity with the food drives for The Light House is unsurpassed. It is heartwarming to see the huge amount of food donated at one time, knowing that many people in our community who are hungry will have food to feed their families”.   

For more information about the Light House, please contact Pam Siemer, Director of Development at 410.349.5056 or visit www.annapolislighthouse.org.

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