Food Van Ministry

The NEW Phillip the  Van has been on the road since Spring 2017, helping feed the hungry throughout Rochester.

Don't forget the poor!
 

Not only do we have an active ministry of people collecting and deivering food to emergecy shelters and area food cupboards -- the parish van that is utlized for this purpose is a bit of a celebrity! On the first weekend of each month, "Phillip the Van" (get the pun?) is parked at the front entrance to Church to encourage us to fill up the van with non-perishable staples: peanut butter and jelly, beans, pasta and sauce, rice, tuna, cereal.

Phillip even has his own Twitter account to share information about poverty and food needs in our community @PhilliptheVan -- follow him!

This food van ministry delivers our collected non-perishables as well as food nearing its expiration from Wegmans. Every day our volunteers are at the Wegmans loading dock in East Rochester or Penfield, loading up on produce, bakery items, and prepared meals.

We deliver to Bethany House and Dimitri House, as well St. Andrews Food Cupboard and Sister Regis Food Cupboard which supports our sisters and brothers of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini parish in the city. Phillip the Van also collects for our Penfield HOPE ministry, assisting local people in the 14526 and 14625 area codes.

The daily Food Van time commitment is 8:00-9:30 am, Monday-Friday.  Please contact Ed Cala at 671-8381.

You can help Phillip the Van with collections each first weekend of the month at any Mass. Contact Cathy Kamp to help -- it's simple, rewarding and a great way to meet other parishioners. A great ministry for families and small groups!

Ways to help feed the poor each week at St. Joe's:
 

Parishioners are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items.  These are desperately need throughout the year. Food can be placed in the usher's room, or brought to Phillip the Van at the front entrance of Church on the first weekend of each month.

Gifts Cards for grocery assistance are also needed throughout the year. Please donate cash or checks in an envelope marked "For gift cards." Cash and checks are preferred over donated cards.Cash can also be placed in the Penfield HOPE envelopes in the usher's room.

Cereal is also needed throughout the year for the Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf. Please place your contribution on the counter behind the chapel on the third weekend of each month.

Special collections are announced most months for particular needs of Penfield HOPE. Check the bulletin and announcement slides at Mass. Click here to train to volunteer at Penfield HOPE.

 

"Jesus' three questions to Peter about love are followed by these commands:
feed my lambs, feed my sheep.
Let us never forget that authentic power is service..."
Pope Francis 2/19/13