The St. Mary Food Pantry

Sadly, there is a high number of people in our city that require food assistance. We are regularly serving over 100 families a month.

All are welcome at the food pantry at St. Mary Church, which is open on the first & third Mondays of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. and on the first & third Wednesdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The pantry is located in the corner of the parking lot at at 418 Second St. NW. Look for the brightly painted windows. A name, address and phone number are asked of everyone who comes for help.

If a person needs food assistance when our food pantry is closed, please contact our parish office, tel. 616.459.7390, to see if we are able to assist you.

Thanksgiving meal boxes

Our food pantry will be accepting requests from households in need of food to receive Thanksgiving meal boxes containing a turkey, stuffing, vegetables, fruit, mashed potatoes and more. We are accepting requests from October 21st through November 15th.

Households who are in need of emergency food, or whose income is below federal poverty guidelines and/or are enrolled in government income-based programs (WIC, FAP, etc.) are  eligible to request a holiday meal box. During our church office hours and during the hours our food pantry is open, we will place sign-up forms on the back porch of the office building, right next to the food pantry building off of the parking lot. People will be able to visit the table in the porch and fill out a form.

The boxes will be distributed on Saturday, November 23rd, from 10 am – noon.

We are able to provide these meal boxes only because of the generosity of those who support our food pantry!  We estimate that each meal box will cost us around $50 this year. Please consider making a donation to the food pantry to help us cover the costs—give online at stmarygr.weshareonline.org. God has blessed us, and we are glad to share those blessings with those who are in need of food during the holidays.

The St. Mary Food Pantry is an equal opportunity provider.

Manager needed

We are looking for a volunteer to manage our food pantry. Details »

Blessings

God has been blessing us, and new things keep happening that allow us to continue to meet this increasing need.

Our partnership with Feeding America West Michigan is reducing our food costs dramatically. We are able to buy some items of food for 18 cents a pound that would cost far more if we had to buy them at a store.

We have been blessed with the assistance of Family Fare/the SpartanNash Foundation through their Scan to End Hunger campaign and purchases of food for our holiday meal boxes.

We have been receiving funds from the Alpine Meijer store as their designated food pantry for the Simply Give program.

Other churches, including St. Stephen, St. James, St. Adalbert, and St. Paul Anglican churches have held food drives for our pantry.

You can help

Donations of non-perishable food items, soaps, toilet paper, etc. are always needed and welcome. We also use paper and plastic grocery bags in which to pack food. These may be dropped off at the St. Mary Church office during office hours, or left in the vestibule of the church.

Wondering what to donate? Click here are a few ideas: Most-Needed Items for Our Food Pantry »
¿Se pregunta qué donar? Aquí hay algunas ideas: Artículos más necesarios para nuestra despensa de alimentos

Our efforts at recycling to raise money for the pantry is definitely helping. Please continue to use the Paper Gator and bring your scrap metal for the Metal for Meals metal drives!

Monetary donations are always welcome.

• Option A: Give online at: St. Mary Church—WeShare
• Option B: Give online at: Feeding America West Michigan and specify Account #1423 / St. Mary Food Pantry as the intended destination of the funds so that our account is credited.
• Option C: Make out a check to
  Feeding America West Michigan
  1950 Waldorf St. NW #10B
  Grand Rapids, MI 49544
  and specify Account #1423 / St. Mary Food Pantry as the intended destination of the funds so that our account is credited.
• Option D: Send a check to
  St. Mary Food Pantry
  423 First St. NW
  Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5277

Other ways we still need your help:

• Consider volunteering at the pantry – we can always use help!
• Buy a donation card at the Alpine Meijer location during their Simply Give program.

The need is great, but so is the heart of our parish and our community!