Whether donating food, purchasing an extra freezer, packing grocery bags, or offering a warm greeting at a car window, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish community helps create something larger than a food distribution program. They help ensure that neighbors know they are seen, valued, and cared for.
For many families, a warm meal is more than nourishment. It is comfort, dignity, and a reminder that they are not alone.
When growing demand began to stretch the capacity of the food pantry at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, dedicated volunteers stepped forward with generous hearts, purchasing an additional freezer to store more food for those in need. Because of their compassion, more families will have access to the essential groceries that help bring loved ones together around the table.
That spirit of generosity is reflected throughout the pantry’s ministry. Three mornings each week, volunteers gather in the Parish Center to prepare for food distribution. Working together, they sort and organize food donated by local food banks, parishioners, businesses, and other supporters, pack grocery bags, and welcome neighbors who come seeking assistance.
Led by Director Susan Bixby, the pantry serves an average of 175 families each month. In September alone, volunteers distributed 391 bags of groceries to 158 households, providing food for 689 individuals.
While those numbers illustrate the pantry’s impact, they tell only part of the story. The heart of the ministry is found in the relationships formed between volunteers and the neighbors they serve. For those who stock shelves, sort donations, check expiration dates, and pack bags each week, the work is about far more than food. It is a tangible expression of the parish’s commitment to caring for others and building a welcoming community grounded in faith.
For the families who receive assistance, that care provides both practical support and peace of mind. Access to groceries helps stretch household budgets and allows families to devote limited resources to other essential expenses, including utilities, housing, transportation, and healthcare.
The ministry is made possible through the generosity of parishioners and partnerships with organizations such as the Anne Arundel Food Bank. During the holiday season, that spirit of generosity becomes even more visible as volunteers prepare hundreds of Thanksgiving meal bags for families throughout the region.
In parishes, schools, ministries, and neighborhoods throughout our Archdiocese, countless individuals are responding to God’s call through acts of generosity, compassion, and service. As we share these stories, we offer our heartfelt thanks to all who give of themselves for the benefit of others.
