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GREATER WATERBURY INTERFAITH MINISTRIES
The Outreach Committee received the newsletter of the Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministry, which operates the Soup Kitchen at St. John's Episcopal Church in downtown Waterbury. This is where our monthly donations of food and money go.
The Soup Kitchen is seeing record numbers of guests. It is not uncommon to serve 350 to 365 people a day during various times of the month. In September, the Soup Kitchen served 5,148 meals, and those numbers are increasing as cold weather sets in. In addition to the nonperishable items we donate, the Soup Kitchen can use pans of ziti, meatloaves, casseroles, and salads. Desserts such as cakes and pastries are eagerly accepted and appreciated by the guests. To discuss food pickups or donations, please contact Barbara Dublin at 757-7734.
Maxx Terry, who runs the Soup Kitchen, is also very busy with the Food Pantry. The Pantry provides bags of food to families and individuals to take home for future meals. In September, 586 clients (individuals or heads of household) were served. Of these, 103 were new clients. Maxx does a great job managing the food inventory and making smart purchases, but there are days when the demand is so great that the shelves are cleaned out in one morning. The Food Pantry strives to adhere to the FDA Food Pyramid and Connecticut Food Bank guidelines to provide each client with a nutritionally balanced three-day supply of food. St. Peter's Barbara Sirino volunteers at St. John's, packing grocery bags for the Food Pantry, and she is the person who delivers St.Peter's monthly food gifts.
Food, money and volunteers are needed. These are times like no others in this country's history. All nonprofit and volunteer agencies in this area worry that the momentum for hurricane relief may detract from recognition of the need that still exists locally. The Food Bank and Soup Kitchen is a well-managed and administered operation, which has grown to meet the needs of the people in the greater Waterbury Area. Religious groups of all faiths in Waterbury and the towns around it belong to its Interfaith Support Group. It is remarkable what is being done by Maxx, Susan Provonost, the Director of Resources and Administration, and the volunteers who work with them.
Please read more in the News & Views that will be posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. There is too much in it to summarize.
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