Vision Food Share: Loving And Caring For Our Friends In The Body Of Christ

For Marie Abel, Robin Moloney, and all those who give a few hours each month to gather and pack food with Vision Food Share, the purpose is simple. They are there because they love and care for those in need.

“We are here to love and care for our friends in the Body of Christ,” Marie says.

Thanks to the generosity of many All Saints parishioners, Vision Food Share provides parishioners and families from Dallas a pack of food — consisting of pantry items, meat, vegetables, and fruit — on the fourth Saturday of each month. Those in need are vetted and personally invited to come for food, assorted toiletries and paper products.

The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched the pocketbooks of families who were already struggling. Before the pandemic, the ministry distributed packs for between 35 and 45 families. Recently, they have served as many as 50. Since March, the packages are being distributed via drive-through to help keep everyone safe and socially distanced. Some are also being delivered to those most at-risk of COVID-19 complications.

Vision Food Share has been a ministry at All Saints since 1993 when it was started by Joan Manker. Marie has led the ministry since 1998, with Robin jumping in to help about 10 years ago. Jeanne Coyle serves as the ministry’s secretary and Glen Abel is the treasurer. In addition, Jay Harvey has offered essential support. As a retired dietician, she helps by providing recommendations each month, from healthy eating to staying hydrated. This is another benefit for those receiving food.

Typically, about 20 to 30 volunteers gather on the fourth Saturday of the month at about 7:30 a.m. Volunteers gather all the food, divide it into packages, and distribute them from 9 to 10 a.m. The group has also carried out this work with fewer volunteers to follow COVID-19 precautions.

“It’s always a miracle to me,” Marie says. “My husband says, ‘Do you think you will have enough people?’ I say, ‘That is God’s job. I will show up and He will send people.’”

Marie says God always follows through.

“We serve people and families who may be in need,” she says. “They may be elderly on a fixed income, handicapped, have lost a job or had an illness. We always want everyone to feel welcome when they come for food.”

Those who receive food are parishioners and community members. They are personally recommended by parishioners or the St. Vincent de Paul Society members. They are invited, via phone call, to come to the distribution — it is not first-come, first-serve.

“Our volunteers get to know those who come for food,” Marie says. “They care about them. They want to know how they are doing.”

Accessing the meat, produce and pantry items has also gotten to be a bit more work due to COVID-19 business adjustments, so Marie would welcome volunteers, especially those with some weekday availability.

“This is an important ministry for our parish for many, many reasons,” Marie says. “It is an opportunity to put the Gospel into practice and to be directly involved with those in need.”

Each year at Thanksgiving and Christmas, those in need receive something special — a turkey is provided for Thanksgiving and a pork loin for Christmas. These are purchased with support from parishioners.

Marie is thankful to all the groups at All Saints that financially support this Vision Food Share, including the All Saints Women’s Organization, the library group, the Men’s Club, the Knights of Columbus, and the children and families at All Saints Catholic School. She is also thankful for the support from Fr. Alfonse Nazzaro.

Marie Abel is always looking for more volunteers who may serve with Vision Food Share. She needs some help during the weekdays of the distribution week to gather items for the food packages. She is also looking for younger volunteers, because of COVID-19 precautions. For more information or to get involved, please call the parish office at 972-661-9282.