St. Mary’s Food Kitchen: Sharing God’s Love with Those in Need

After a busy morning, noon rolls around, and your stomach starts growling. Whether you head out the door to grab take-out or pull together a bite from the fridge, it’s usually not long before you satisfy the angry rumbles. Many people aren’t so lucky.

For the past 40 years, St. Mary’s Food Kitchen has been providing meals — 365 days a year — to those in need in our community. On the second Thursday of each month, Queen of the Holy Rosary partners with St. Mary’s organization to share this vital mission. Before COVID-19, volunteers from the parish would work together to prepare and serve a hot meal for St. Mary’s. Presently, however, the ministry consists of parishioners preparing bag lunches in their homes and bringing them to Queen. From there, the lunches are delivered to St. Mary’s and distributed to those in need. In 2020 alone, St. Mary’s distributed 700-800 lunches a day — nearly 200,000 lunches total — with Queen providing 4,337 of those.

Parishioner Tom Cleary first experienced being involved with this ministry when his children volunteered as Queen of the Holy Rosary School students. He has become more active at St. Mary’s over the past eight years in his retirement.

“It always seemed like the right thing to do,” Tom says. “There are always people there who need the service. It’s something that needs to keep happening.

“Most of them are so gracious and grateful for what you’re providing them,” he adds. “They recognize they’re down on their luck and they’re appreciative of the people who come down and help.”

Parishioner Cindy Rubaie has been involved in the ministry for the past 30 years, making casseroles to deliver. She now serves along with her adult son, Tony, Rubaie, who began serving at the food kitchen about five years ago.

“I like helping, and these people need help,” Tony says.

“I like getting out of my neighborhood and seeing Jesus in the faces of those helping and those being helped,” Cindy says. “It’s eye-opening and heartwarming — faith in action, an expression of love.”

For those who serve, it is an opportunity to consider the blessings in their own lives, and share God’s love with those who are struggling.

“I always remember, ‘There but for the grace of God go I,’” Tom says. “I hope they realize there are people who want to help and they have a place to turn.”

“God loves everybody, and God loves when we help,” Tony says.

Now that the ministry has shifted to making sack lunches, it is the perfect way for parishioners of all ages and availability to participate. Even families with young children can work together to serve our community and have a real impact.

Participation in this ministry is simple. Volunteers can choose the number of lunches they would like to make. Guidelines are provided for how to put the lunches together. With our contactless drop-off, those delivering lunches pull up and open the trunk, and volunteers will collect the sack lunches.

If you would like to become involved in making lunches for St. Mary’s Food Kitchen, please contact Maureen Kies at makies5@aol.com or 816-547-2250. If you would like to prepare a casserole or serve at the food kitchen once regular operations resume, please contact Maureen.

The ministry currently consists of parishioners preparing bag lunches in their own homes, and bringing them to Queen, where they are then transported to St. Mary’s and distributed to those in need.