Our Lord Jesus Christ the King November 20, 2005

Turkey…chicken…ham…potatoes…

carrots…sweet potatoes…peas…

string beans…gravy…canned fruits…

cranberry sauce.

Yes, Thanksgiving Day is less than a week away, and

that means busy days for Mary Andersen, Director of St.

Rosalie’s Parish Social Ministry, and her Outreach Food

Pantry volunteers.

As the old saying goes, ‘Many hands make light work.’

And to Mary, that is the absolute truth.

“Without my staff of volunteers we would accomplish

nothing,” explained Mrs. Andersen, now in her fourth year

of the ministry that was founded in February 1990.

“And all is not accomplished just at St. Rosalie’s. Other

churches in Hampton Bays, especially United Methodist, as

well as civic, fraternal and religious organizations are

involved.

“Don’t forget the parishioners of those churches,

members of the organizations and the residents of the towns. Without their donations we would not be able to

do what we do.”

Add to the above the two King Kullen Supermarkets in Hampton Bays which encourage Food Drives for

the Needy.

While the focus is now on Thanksgiving and will shift to Christmas very shortly, Mrs. Andersen reminded

us that the needy must not be forgotten year round.

“We give out 150 to 200 baskets of food a month thanks to the people who donate,” she continued.

“In October alone we went even higher to 280.”

The King Kullen Food Drives were held on Nov. 5 and thanks

to the East End Men’s Group, were conducted to perfection.

“I called them on Oct. 12, gave the date and was told not to

worry about a thing,” continued Mary.

“And I knew everything was in good hands. Boxes and boxes

and boxes of food were collected and now we are busy putting the

holiday baskets together.”

Mrs. Andersen pointed out that over 90 baskets were distributed

for Thanksgiving in 2004 and expects that number to be topped

this year.

“Once again, the volunteers are the ones who deserve the

credit,” she stated. “I try to make the work pleasurable for them

and they do the same for me.

“My goal is to make everything run smoothly.”

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Anne Larkin and Vivian Mangel check out the

food before arranging baskets for each family.

Pat Beninati, left, and Barbara Galvin, teachers at Our

Lady of the Hamptons Pre-K, accept food from their

students for the St. Rosalie’s Thanksgiving Food Drive.

Left to right are Eoin McElhinney, Tyler Nolan, Kai

Kinsey and Matthew Chilicki.

November 20, 2005 Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

Volunteers are Pat Castro; Rosemarie Conway;

Marie and Ben DiMonte; Peggy Durand; Joan

McCrave; Pat Farrell; Marge Goeren.

Also, Jane and Vinny Handal; Anne Larkin;

Vivian Mangel; Veronica Kotary; Karin and Jerry

McKenna; Pia Sargi; Linda Finer.

And Eileen Randolph, Pat Richichi, Sonja

Santos and Joan Shields.

The Southampton Kiwanis Club, through

George Skidmore of Skidmore’s Sports and Styles,

Hampton Bays, donates a box of hams for the

holidays.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians give food and

a gift certificate each month.

King Kullen accepts Thanksgiving turkey coupons that were donated to St. Rosalie’s by customers.

“And if we have some turkeys left over,” stated Mrs. Andersen, ”the store has agreed to hold them over for

Christmas.”

Food is not the only thing that the Parish Social Ministry is all about.

The pantry also issues vouchers for the Dominican Sisters Thrift Shop in which the individual or family may

obtain clothing and household items.

Money for one-time assistance for rent, utilities, fuel,

transportation and prescriptions also is given.

The Eucharist Ministry Program to the homebound is

under Mrs. Andersen’s supervision. There are 30 Eucharist

Ministers serving the parish.

During the holiday season a coat drive is conducted and

poinsettias are delivered to the homebound during Christmas.

In addition to regular services, information is provided on

other available programs such as eligibility for food stamps.

Other programs are FAN (Food and Nutrition), which is

sponsored by Catholic Charities and funded by New York

State. It provides food for low income mothers with children

less than six years old, pregnant mothers, and post-partum

mothers at mobile sights.

Another program is W.I.C. (Women, Infants, and

Children), providing supplemental foods, nutrition education,

and health care information.

“Since 2004, I have seen many changes in St. Rosalie’s

Food Pantry,” concluded Mrs. Andersen. “Each year as the town grows the support and generosity grows

with it.

“This year donations have doubled since last year and new businesses are contributing more to the pantry.

Starbucks donates bagels and cake. The Rotary Club donated diapers and several local residents donated large

volumes of toys and blankets.”

In 2005 the pantry also participated with many outside programs---Island

Harvest; Have a Heart Foundation; and our own Sarah’s Closet Coat Drive and

Elizabeth Ministry, to support the women, men and children in need of services.

“What has been accomplished in the last few years has been the smooth

transformation of a small food pantry to a Parish Social Ministry which has

taken on broader responsibilities and services. In essence, today’s programs are

the plans of the future.”

Volunteers, left to right, Ben DiMonte, Peggy

Durand, Marge Goeren, Vivian Mangel and Pat

Farrell, play key roles in arranging the food baskets.

Mary Andersen