FOR THOSE IN NEED

On Thursday, April 16, Catholic Charities teamed up with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to bring a massive food distribution site to the Pastoral Center in Albany. The event was part of Catholic Charities’ Mobile Outreach Vehicle Extension (CC MOVE) program. 

Boxes of food were packed and distributed on site, which was run out of the center’s parking lot from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Each box contained fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products provided by the food bank. Two pick-up areas were organized for guests arriving either by car or for walk-ins.

“This is given out independent of income,” said Eileen Spath, marketing and communications director for Catholic Charities in the Albany Diocese. “We don't ask a lot of background questions. It's just anyone who comes in and says, ‘Yes, I need food to make ends meet.’ ”

Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CSJ, director of community partnerships for Catholic Charities, estimated that the site was “on track for 800 boxes” to be distributed to families.

To keep up with the growing demand for food assistance, this is the third of five food distribution events CC MOVE is offering in April and early May.

“We’re seeing a lot of people just anecdotally saying that because of what’s going on with the coronavirus crisis, they’re coming to a food pantry for the first time or seeing food insecurity for the first time,” said Spath. “So all of a sudden people who were just fine a month ago are struggling, through no fault of their own, so we’re trying to be that safety net for people who are in need.”

An assembly line formed in the parking lot as volunteers went around filling boxes with cheeses, apples, chicken and other goods. Volunteers began arriving at 7:30 a.m. to help unload food for packaging, said Spath, which included Catholic Charities staff, locals recruited over Facebook or “just friends of people who wanted to lend a hand.”

Lisa Kuban, pastoral associate for youth ministry at St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish in Schenectady, heard about the distribution site through an email from her parish: “I’ve been sitting at home in front of my laptop for far longer than I like,” she laughed. “For me it was an opportunity to come out and do something that did not involve email or webinars or Zoom meetings.”

Toward the end of the event, food supply could be seen dwindling even as more cars and walk-ins continued to show. 

“That's the hardest part,” Kuban said. “Whoever gets a box is going to be appreciative, I just know that I’m going to go home and I don't have to worry about (how) I'm going to be able to feed my family.”

On the morning of the drive, Fort Drum’s Recruiting Army National Guard heard about the food distribution and sent around 15 soldiers to assist with the event. “They had another assignment and it fell through and they were looking for something, and we said please we’d love to have you,” said Sister Betsy. “It just worked out as God intended.” 

A little before noon, a woman arrived on-site to receive a box. She waited inside her vehicle as members of the National Guard loaded up her trunk. As she drove off, she rolled down her window and addressed the crowd of volunteers: “I appreciate you guys,” she said. “God bless you, thank you!”