Our Lady's Hands + Hearts Outreach Ministry

Immediate Needs - Week of October 5th

THANK YOU--THANK YOU--THANK YOU!!!
Many thanks to all who donated various items and financial support to the outreach ministry in the past several weeks.

Special thanks to the person who has left 50 lb. bags of rice and black beans in front of our door.

And thank you to all who completed a volunteer form. We are in the process of reviewing them and scheduling people for volunteer shifts and projects.

Scroll down to the bottom to see what's on sale this week and the wish list for the pantry.

Local Dry Cleaner Holds Food Drive to Benefit Our Lady's Hands † Hearts Outreach
We are excited to announce that a new dry cleaning business in our neighborhood has approached us with an offer to conduct a food drive to benefit our food pantry. The newly opened Royal Garment Care is owned and operated by Halain Suarez, former Marine and Combat Vet, Iraq '03-'04 and his wife Celeste. They are offering a 25% discount on their services (dry cleaning, laundering and alterations) for customers who bring in non-perishable food in an amount proportional to the discount. The food drive will begin on Saturday, September 19 and end on Saturday, October 10. Royal Garment Care (formerly Drive Thru Cleaners) is located at 9828 S.W. 184th Street, Cutler Bay, telephone 305-252-1020.

Don't forget, we need your used plastic supermarket bags.

Looking for someone with a pickup truck to
1) pick up produce in Homestead on Thursday mornings at 9:30
2) pick up dry goods at Christ Fellowship between 12:30 and 2:00 on Fridays
3) Go with us to Hialeah on Wednesday mornings to pick up food at the Daily Bread Food Bank

Looking for someone with any kind of vehicle to pick up bagels in the afternoons at Offerdahl's.

Evolving Needs

As the ministry matures and we add new components to the pantry, our needs change. Below are some new needs we could use some assistance with.

Transportation of Food - We Need Volunteers With Trucks and To Package Food
We have now been approved to pick up fresh produce at Farm Share in Homestead. Pick ups are on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:00 and 11:30. The produce is FREE; we just need to transport it.

We also pick up at the Daily Bread Food Bank in Hialeah on Wednesdays at 11:30 and meet a delivery truck at Christ Fellowship on Fridays at 12:30.

The Publix at the South Dade Plaza is now donating day-old bread and bakery products. Pick ups are 6:00 a.m. Monday and Wednesday.

We need volunteers on a rotating basis to help pick up and package food. The task also requires help loading and unloading cases of food.

If you can help transport food or help to process it at the pantry on pick up days, please call Linda Coughlin at 305-235-5135 ext. 167 to volunteer.

Refrigeration/Freezer - Some of the food we are obtaining from the food bank is parishable. We have some refrigerator and freezer space but could use more. On our wish list is a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer unit. If you are getting rid of one, please consider donating it to the pantry. Please call Li-nda Coughlin at 305-235-5135 ext. 167 for further information.

Responsible Volunteers - Volunteers are needed at 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday to assist with processing the food that comes from the food bank. The cartons must be unpacked and all the food stowed away. The fresh vegetables need to be bagged into ziplocks in preparation for distribution.

Volunteers are also needed during pantry operating hours to assist with packing food bags and helping with the distribution. Other tasks include sorting the donated clothing and other items.

Plastic Grocery Bags - We go through 1,000 plastic bags a week so we are always in need. Please drop off bags at the pantry during operating hours, or leave in the church vestibule or office.

Donations - We are always in need of donations, particularly financial donations. Food donations we can use that cannot be obtained at the food bank are poptop, ready-to-eat foods for the homeless, canned meat and canned fruit. When you see shampoo and conditioner on sale for 99 cents, please pick up a couple for the pantry. Laundry soap, toilet paper, dish soap and other household items are also appreciated.

For financial donations, please make check payable to Our Lady's Hands + Hearts and mail to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, 9500 SW 184 Street, Cutler Bay, FL 33157.

As always, thank you for your generosity!

Pantry Hours - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We're Now an Agency of the Daily Bread Food Bank

We have been approved as an agency of the Daily Bread Food Bank which is part of the national organization Feeding America. Our operation had to be open for three months before we could apply, so we met the requirement, filed an application, had a site inspection and passed all the criteria for membership.

What does that mean? We are able to purchase bulk food at 19 cents per pound. We can also get selected fresh vegetables for $5 and the bread is free. We have been going to the Hialeah warehouse once a week. We are not always able to get everything we need, but what we can get is a big help to our budget.

We have not been able to get much in the way of canned vegetables, canned fruits, pasta, mac and cheese mix and other items we still need so those donations are very welcome. We hope you will continue to support the ministry with your donations of food and funds.

We need volunteers who have trucks to help with bringing food back from the Hialeah warehouse of the Daily Bread Food Bank. If you can help with this project, please call Linda Coughlin at 305-235-5135 ext. 167 to volunteer.

God bless all who are working for the needy in our community.

November SHARE Program - Payment Deadline November 6th

SHARE Florida Food Network is an ministry of Cornerstone Family Ministries out of Tampa that helps provide low cost food to thousands of Florida families each month. Everyone and anyone is welcome to participate in SHARE. There are no income requirements, just a desire to make a positive difference in the world. Each month, for $18, SHARE participants receive $36 worth of high-quality food, including fresh fruits and vegetables. At this time, Cutler Ridge United Methodist Church has graciously allowed us to piggy-back on their SHARE program.

SHARE Basic Package for November - $18
1.7 lbs. Tray Pack Chicken Drums
10 oz. Deli Sliced Honey Ham
15 oz. Ready to Cook Chicken
Plus a variety of fresh fruits and veg
1 lb. Park Sausage Roll
1 lb. Imitation Crab
Plus a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables!

November Specials

Thanksgiving Special - $27.50
10-14 lb. average Turkey, 6 oz, Turkey Stuffing Mix, Turkey gravey mix, 16 oz. Cranberry Sauce, 8 oz. Jiffy Buttermilk Biscuit Mix, 10" pre-baked Pumpkin Pie, plus an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables

Breakfast on a Stick - $14.25
60 2.5 oz. State Fair Sausage Links wrapped in a Blueberry Pancake, microwave or oven bake

Bacon Wrapped Steak Special - $16.50
8 6 oz. USDA choice Bacon Wrapped Sirloin Steaks

Supper Time Meals - $18.50
7 14 oz. meals
- Grilled Chicken with Tomato Basil Sauce and Penne Pasta
- Meatloaf (or Beef Strips) with Mashed Potatoes, California Blend Mixed Vegetables and Gravey
- Sausage with Green and Red Peppers with Sauce over Pasta
- Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese
- Turkey ala King with Rice and California Blend Mixed - Vegetables
- Chicken Teriyaki Stirfry with Rice and Red and Green Peppers
- Beef ravioli in Marinara Sauce

For further information or to order, please call Linda Coughlin at Outreach Ministry at 305-235-5135 x 167.

Orders must be placed and paid for by 6:00 p.m. on November 6th. Your SHARE package must be picked up at the Food Pantry between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 20th. For further information, please call Outreach Ministry coordinator Linda Coughlin at 305-235-5135 ext. 167.

About the Pantry

And the King will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
...Matthew 25:41

Our Lady's Hands † Hearts Pantry is sponsored by Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 9500 SW 184 Street, Cutler Bay, Florida 33157. The Pantry is designed to provide food and other household items to individuals/families who live in the south Dade area and whom are experiencing temporary struggles in obtaining basic necessities due to illness, unemployment, underemployment or other crisis. Initially, the primary services of the ministry will be operating a food pantry out of the rectory garage. To the extent of our resources, the ministry will also provide financial assistance to those in need of help with utility shut-offs, pending evictions, prescriptions and medical assistance. Additional services may be added in the future as additional resources are developed.

It is our hope that the entire parish community will become active in this ministry. The ministry provides opportunities of all parishioners to be involved in a variety of ways. There are many tasks and needs, one or more of which is sure to fit you and your family.

How Can You Help? Get Involved With Our Outreach Ministry!

There are many needs in our community. We need everyone's hands and heart. We encourage all Holy Rosary families to find a way to participate in our outreach ministry. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Volunteer
Volunteering can take many forms and hopefully one will be a fit for your family's availability.

Do you enjoy meeting people and helping face to face? If so, we would love to have you work in the pantry to distribute bags of food, pack bags, organize the pantry shelves and other pantry duties.

Help us locate resources. Everyone has special talents that can contribute to building this ministry. Take some time to get to know the pantry and ministry so you can reflect and discern on how you can contribute. Maybe you have connections or skills that would help us locate valuable resources for the ministry. Do you now people in the food business that could help us secure discounted food? Or maybe you have a connection to help us get people's prescriptions filled at a discount. Maybe you are a great fundraiser or know people who would be willing to make a significant donation to help fund the pantry.

Organize a food drive - How about setting up a food drive at your work or place of business, or maybe at an organization to which you belong. Our Outreach Ministry coordinator would be happy to be a guest speaker at a gathering to share her experiences at the food pantry.

Are you a super shopper? Do you love to hunt out bargains? If so, we can use your talent! Read the ads and report bargains on pantry items. Keep your eyes open when in the supermarket and report in-store specials.

Donate
You can donate food or funds.

Envelopes will be provided monthly for you to make a financial donation to the pantry. If every parish family donated just $10 a month, we would be able to help a significant number of people in our community.

Non-parishable food donations are always welcome. Check our pantry blog to see what is needed, what's on sale and whether there are coupons for purchase of the needed items. You can drop your food donations off at the pantry during operating hours, bring it with you to Mass or stop by the parish office with your donation.

Get Income Tax Credit for Your Donations. Did you know you can put your name and parish envelope number on the receipts from the food you donate? Just turn it in with your donation and the dollar amount will be added to your church donations for the year and will appear on your year end tax statemet.

Bags/Boxes are needed for packing and distributing food. You can drop them off at the pantry during operating hours.

Florida Power & Light Care to Share Program - We've all been in the dark when storms damage power lines and we know what that's like. It's not easy living without power. When you pay your power bill, consider adding a dollar or two extra as a donation to the Care to Share program. This program helps on an emergency basis when an account holder cannot pay their electric bill. When funds are available, the program can prevent power from being shut off.

Employment

Support the local work force - If you are working and can afford to, use local workers and tradespeople. Employ someone to care for your yard or your pool. Engage someone to clean your house. Get your hair and nails done. This kind of support keeps dollars in our local community and helps keep people working. Most of the people coming in for food donations are people who have been working in construction and yard services. They are having great difficulty finding steady work.

One place you can go to use local workers is the WeCount! Community Worker Center. Located at 10871 S.W. 188 St. in Cutler Bay and funded by Miami-Dade County as well as private donors, WeCount! is the first nonprofit day-labor employment center in Miami-Dade. Its principal function is to match workers with employers – such as businesses, contractors and homeowners – who seek short-term labor.
The Center supports the human rights and dignity of day laborers and the creation of harmonious relationships between day laborers and the surrounding community.

Report employment opportunities - in a small way, we would like to assist our clients in finding employment. We can't be a full service employment agency, but if you do know of employment opportunities, particularly unskilled positions, please let us know via this blog or by calling the Pantry.

Current Pantry Needs

Thank you to everyone who has contributed in some way to our ministry. We have received contributions in the form of time, financial donations, food, bags, coupons, referrals and many other areas.

We are experiecing an increased demand for food supplies for needy families. Some of these people have been out of work for many months and are unable to find employment. We are working with them to steer them to other resources such the SNAP program (food stamps), but they still need food assistance. Some folks are working and still cannot make it until the end of the month without a helping hand.

UPDATE October 2009: The demand is increasing daily. Our daily average is around 50 bags and Wednesday, our heaviest day 130+ bags of food. That's a lot of food. Your donations are very welcome.

Below is what we need this week. Donations can be dropped off at the pantry (entrance by rectory on SW 184 Street) during operating hours, the church office or bring your donation to Mass and leave it in the vestibule.

What's on Sale this Week?

We're looking for the best bargains to stretch donations. Here's what we have found for the week. We are now getting some food products at the Daily Bread Food Bank for 19 cents per pound. The specials listed below are things we can't get at the food back. See information above on the types of food products are are getting from the food bank.

Winn Dixie - Sept. 30 - Oct. 6th
Goya Tomato Sauce - 2 for 1
Mullers Pasta - 10 for $10
Ragu Pasta Sauce - 2 for $4
Velveeta Shells & Cheese - 2 for $4
W-D Veggies - 20 for $10 (we need these !!)
Hunt's Pasta Sauce - 10 for $10
W-D Macaroni & Cheese - 20 for $10
W-D Fruit - 10 for $10 (we need these!!)
Goya Beans - 10 for $10
W-D Beans - 10 for $6
W-D Vegetable Oil - 2 for $5
El Ebro Black Beans - 10 for $10

Publix - October 1 - 7th
Old ElPaso Tacco Dinner Kits - 2 for 1
Ragu Pasta Sauce - 2 for 1
Kraft Velveta Cheese & Shells Dinner - 3 for $5
Campbell's Soup - 10 for $10
Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper - 2 for 1
Progresso Soup - 4 for $5
Idahoan Instant Potatoes - $.50

Share bargains and sales that you have found by posting your comments below.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Pantry Needs for the Week of October 4th

We are experiencing a heavy demand. We are giving out an average of 40 bags of food PER DAY, with our heaviest day 100+ bags of food. Even with contributions from the Food Bank, we are still struggling to keep up with demand. Donations are needed.

Food
Canned Meat
Canned Fruit
Canned Vegetables
Tomato Sauce
Macaroni & Cheese (20 for 10 W-D brand at Winn-Dixie)
Idahoan Mashed Potatoes - $.50 at Publix
Chef Boyardee
Powdered Milk
Dried beans - 50# bags
White rice - 50# bags ($16.99 at BJs)

Other Needs
Your used plastic shopping bags for making up food bags - this is a constant, ongoing need. Please save your shopping bags and drop them off at the pantry during our operating hours or at the church office.
1 $10 roll or bus/Metrorail tokens
Individual shampoo, conditioner, soap - the kind that you get at hotels - we give out to the homeless
Diapers
Laundry soap
Dish washing liquid

THANK YOU!!! for taking the time to visit our blog and to donate food and other items to Our Lady's Hands † Heart. Your donations can be left in the church vestibule, the church office or the pantry during our operating hours.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Post Questions or Add Your Comments

Let us know what you are thinking! This blog is our communication channel about the pantry. If you have suggestions, see great sales that you want to share or have questions, please post them below. You can do so by clicking on the word 'Comments' below and it will open a comment box for you to type in. We check the blog daily and will respond within 24 hours to your post.

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