PROVIDENCE — They begin every Friday here with the Rosary. Many arrive more than an hour ahead of time, and once enough are assembled, they start praying. Were this a church, the activity might go unnoticed as a rather commonplace detail, but given the venue, it seems remarkable.
Officially, St. Martin de Porres on Cranston Street operates as a senior center, but each Friday morning, year-round, staff and volunteers transform it into one of many Catholic food banks throughout the Diocese of Providence. Most who come for food and other basic necessities have next to nothing. Yet, of late, other more surprising visitors are increasingly turning up.
Jim Jahnz, the Diocese of Providence’s secretary for Catholic Charities and Social Ministry, explains that trends are subject to cyclical fluctuation, but that, “Demand for our food banks has doubled over the past two months, and over the past few years, you see a lot more families who are just on the margins, just struggling to get by. They have jobs. They’re employed. You can see people in line wearing employee uniforms, key fobs or badge tags from an office environment. And despite all their very dignified hard work, they still need help to get by.”
“It’s tough,” adds Jahnz. “It doesn’t matter if you live in Westerly or Woonsocket, Boston or Providence or anywhere in between, people are in need right now.”
According to recent reporting by OSV News, which cites U.S. Department of Agriculture data, some 42 million Americans rely on the national Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and that a child, elderly person, and/or disabled individual resides in nearly 80-percent of SNAP-reliant households.
Behind these sobering statistics are people like Jamie, a single mother of four from Providence who, for more than a quarter-century, has relied on Rhode Island-area Catholic food banks, including St. Martin de Porres. Last year, one of her adult children, a 21-year-old twin, succumbed to complications from cerebral palsy. Jamie admits she’d rather not depend on donations, but has few, if any alternatives.
“I don’t work. My English is not perfect, but I try to do the best I can. I always come here because they know me and they’re always nice to me.”
This particular Friday, Jamie finds herself among 500 people who came to St. Martin de Porres for donated food, clothing, and other household items. The recent federal government shutdown delayed distribution of SNAP benefits, thus contributing to this most recent surge in demand here in Rhode Island, according to Jahnz, but other factors are at play.
“The advent of colder weather,” he observes, “which means high utility bills. People have to keep their home warm and the food dollar doesn’t really stretch that far. Food prices are up in general, too. And families relying on SNAP, that doesn’t really get them through the whole month, only halfway or two thirds of the way, and the last week of the month, they’re really, really hungry. As the bureaucratic piece rectifies itself, it takes a while to level off. So, I see the level of need here being the same, probably until spring.”
While demand increases, supplies don’t always keep pace. Administrators often wonder if they’ll have enough to go around. Which is why, at St. Martin de Porres, staff and volunteers also begin their Fridays with a group prayer. Volunteers outnumber staff here by an 8-to-1 margin, but those who aren’t being paid put in just as many hours – of their own volition – as those who are.
Several years ago, upon retiring from her special education career, Providence native Patricia Snead, whom everyone calls by her lifelong nickname, “Peachy,” originally came to play bingo at St. Martin de Porres and soon began volunteering. She now puts in a full — and fulfilling — day, five days a week.
“It’s very rewarding. This keeps me going. It keeps my mind functioning, communicating and working with people. We’re like a family here. And they come faithfully, too. Maybe they get some of the same stuff each week, but they need it. It is sad that this is what it comes to, but thank God we’ve got a place for them to get stuff.”
Each holiday season, advertisers routinely ask, “What do you get for the person who has everything?” Folks like Peachy and Jahnz suggest getting them involved. Involved in places like St. Martin de Porres, so they can experience the true meaning of the season of giving by meeting their brothers and sisters in faith who are also in need.
“I’ve worked with most of these parish food pantries for nearly two decades,” Jahnz remarks, “and the volunteerism is incredible. Retired folks, teenagers coming in after school, or college students, home from break, giving their time and their talent by volunteering. I think it’s especially important for people to see what’s going on in their community and to help.
“They’ve heard the Gospel and they’re living the Gospel in a very real way, giving the Good News to people in these neighborhoods who need help, who may not hear it otherwise, but who know they can rely upon their parish food pantry. Maybe they don’t have much in material, but they don’t lack in the spiritual. So, when you walk through these doors, you can’t feel anything but happy.”
Visit can use this link: https://www.dioceseofprovidence.org/find-support to see a full list of food banks in the diocese.
