Letter to the editor: Lincoln Food Pantry needs your donations

To the editor:

It’s challenging to believe that there are families in the Lincoln and Weston communities who rely on contributions to a food panty, but there are. Since 2003, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) at St. Joseph Church has helped Lincoln clients in emergency situations.

The food pantry, located at St. Joseph Church in Lincoln, was opened in 2005 and is now serving about 25 families (46 people) each month. This service is supported by the members of St. Julia Parish (Weston/Lincoln) as well as those from St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields and the First Parish Church. The pantry receives food from the Greater Boston Food Pantry and is also supported by the MetroWest Hunger Relief Fund for the Foundation for MetroWest. Most client families are our neighbors or those who work within our Lincoln and Weston communities and who are experiencing an emergency or a period of financial challenge.

The food panty relies upon donations of staple foods (e.g., cans of soup, pasta, rice, juice) that can be stored as dry goods. We are fortunate to have the assistance of Donelan’s supermarket in Lincoln who has created space at the front of the store for a collection bin. We are asking residents of our town to make a small donation of a canned or boxed item when they do their shopping. A sign above the bin indicates the items that are needed most at a given time, but any nonperishable food is welcome. The bin will be emptied each week and the goods transported to the food pantry at St. Joseph Church.

Please note: the collection bin at Donelan’s is for food bought at the store only. If you would like to donate other nonperishable items, please drop them off at St. Joseph’s. Enter the church through the side entrance on the left side of the church, where the ramp is. There is a collection bin right there in the little entrance hall. We are not allowed to give out food that is past the “best by” date, or is in damaged or opened packages.

Please make time and space for this important work. It is more necessary than you think, and your investment in our community will be impactful and most appreciated.

If you are in need of food or would like more information, please call St. Julia Parish of Weston and Lincoln at 781 899 2611.

Sincerely,

Ursula Nowak (president of SVdP, St. Joseph Conference)
33 Conant Road

Nick, Gretchen and Peter Covino
15 Mackintosh Lane

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