With your help, SFEE is feeding the community during this crisis. We committed to donate $15,000 to food pantries on the East End. You can donate to all the pantries too!
We recently told you about our donation to CAST (Community Action Southold Town) in Greenport. Next stop was St. John the Evangelist Parish Outreach and Bread and More Soup Kitchen at the First Congregational Church, both in Riverhead.
Demand has doubled at St. John the Evangelist Parish Outreach. According to their website, in April food was supplied to 266 people, which fed about 1,000 individuals. The pantry is run by Sr. Margaret Smythe, who for decades has ministered to the community, particularly immigrants, on the East End. At a point when most people are thinking of retirement, Sr. Margaret — who is known for her energy and the connection she has with the people she serves — has no such intention! Photo above of Sr. Margaret in the St. John the Evangelist Parish Outreach food pantry by Denise Civiletti.
Bread and More Soup Kitchen at the First Congregational Church of Riverhead can no longer serve sit-down meals inside the church and has been distributing them at the kitchen door. According to the RiverheadLocal Judy Barth, a volunteer with the soup kitchen, said “After the indoor meals were discontinued, at first only about 10 people were picking up to-go meals. As the availability of the service became known through word of mouth, the number of people served jumped up to 50.”
SFEE has been able to help these pantries, as well as others, only through the generous donations of our members which continue to come in each day. Each organization has sent a loud and clear Thank You for the assistance which they greatly need and appreciate at this unprecedented time. Stay tuned for an update on our South Fork pantry donations soon.
You can help us match our $15,000 donation to benefit all food pantries on the East End.