Over the week ending with the 18 December (Christmas) distribution, we received approximately 5.54 tons of nonperishable food donations, and gave out some 6.13 tons of non-perishable food and somewhat less perishable food to 630 families. The number of families served was a 33-year record for St. Martin’s Pantry. (Due to holiday publisher deadlines, totals for the 26 December distribution are not available as this is written. They should be included next week.)
As of the time this is written, estimated shortages for the next three distributions (projecting 370 families for Tuesday 26 December and Tuesday 2 January, and 400 for 8 January): (1) pasta sauce (short approx. 1020 bottles/cans), (2) mac & cheese (short c.900 boxes), (3) pasta (short approx. 875 boxes), (4) canned fruit (short approx. 813 cans), (5) “meals in a can” (stew, canned pasta, chili, etc. -- short c.788 cans), (6) canned beans (short c.798 cans), (7) canned soup (short c.1045 cans), (8) tuna/canned meat/canned fish (short c.475 cans), (9) dry rice/beans (short c.533 pounds), and (10) oatmeal/dry cereal (short approx.450 boxes)..
We also need: Similac Blue and Similac Orange baby formula, and/or domestic or foreign equivalents/substitutes, and baby wipes.
Paper grocery bags (Wegmans or Trader Joe or Lidl size) and plastic newspaper bags and plastic grocery bags are always needed. May God bless you for all your help!
