St. John XXIII’s baby food ministry is underway
Members of St. John XXIII in Tamaqua have been working hard to help those in need. Clockwise from left, Marge Menconi, Karen Davison, Claudette Zarra, Ann Louise Paslawsky, Rose Marie Hechler and Bill Paslawsky. JUSTIN CARLUCCI/TIMES NEWS
The St. Vincent de Paul of S. John XXIII in Tamaqua is working to help those in need in its surrounding community.
After a lengthy application process, the parish received a $5,000 grant from the Diocese of Allentown to jump start and proceed with its baby food ministry.
“The grant process was a little bit time consuming, but one of our St. Vincent de Paul members did a great job writing and applying for the grant,” said Rose Marie Hechler, president since 2001.
“We had a meeting with our pastor at the end of October and we applied in November before the deadline.”
July marks the third month of the project. Any family that either lives in the Tamaqua Area School District or attends the parish is eligible to receive baby food and cereal. The parish just requests some basic information and a valid photo identification.
“We found out in March that we actually got the grant,” said recording secretary Marge Menconi. “After we get the number registered, we then shop for all of those people. We go to Boyer’s and they’ve been fantastic. We go shop for the people and they package it up for us, and we distribute it here.”
The ministry takes place the third Saturday of each month from 9-11 a.m. and is by appointment only. Registration can be emailed to tamaquasvdp@outlook.com, or by phone at 570-225-8620. Requests must be made at least three days before the distribution on the third Saturday.
The movement started slowly in May, but the numbers have more than tripled now in the third month of action.
“We put brochures in different churches,” Hechler said. “Every month we’ve got a little more. We’re hoping with some more publicity that we would get some more little ones.”
And the parish does not stop there.
The congregation has been willing to go above and beyond to help fellow members of the community that need assistance.
“Besides the baby food ministry, if people call us and need assistance for groceries, or utility bills, gas we’ve helped with that,” Menconi said. “If somebody calls for help that needs food, we would shop for them and then deliver the groceries to their house.”
The St. Vincent de Paul of St. John XXIII is located at 307 Pine St., Tamaqua.
