Food Assistance

“IF YOU CAN’T FEED A HUNDRED PEOPLE, THEN JUST FEED ONE.”

Famously attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta, that quote has become a mantra for Penny O’Brien. Penny witnesses the impact of food insecurity through her work as a Vincentian (parish-based volunteer) and as a weekly volunteer at the Becky & Ted Catino Choice Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul’s food and nutrition hub in the West End.

As prices for groceries, gas and other consumer goods soared in 2022, more neighbors than ever turned to St. Vincent de Paul for assistance with food. “I am floored by the number of people who need our help,” Penny says.

Across St. Vincent de Paul’s network of pantries, including the Catino Choice Food Pantry, volunteers served 25,428 households in the past year – providing direct aid to over 75,425 people.

Each week, Penny packs up boxes of groceries from the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry at Our Lady of the Valley Parish to deliver to neighbors in Reading and surrounding neighborhoods who reach out for help. Home by home, she sees families struggling to make ends meet. “When I deliver the groceries, I offer to each family to come inside to help put the food away. I can tell you, their refrigerator shelves are empty. We know this is truly a need.”

St. Vincent de Paul would not have had the capacity to serve a record number of neighbors through its food pantries without the support of its many volunteers, in-kind donors, and hundreds of businesses, schools, churches and other partners who contributed food, hygiene supplies and personal care items. Your generosity helps provide compassionate, person-to-person assistance, relief, and hope. Thank you!