Our friends at Catholic Charities recently donated 60 bags of food to Mercy Home, which will feed 30 families in need.
When Mercy Home’s Compassionate Care Task Force identified food as a need of Mercy Home’s young people, AfterCare members, Friends First mentees, and their families, they contacted Angel Gutierrez, a longtime supporter of Mercy Home, at Catholic Charities for support. They provided groceries from their food bank, which includes groceries that were both donated and purchased by the agency to put the donation together.
“The ability to help a sister agency and its clients during a traumatic pandemic is the right thing to do,” Gutierrez said.
“It’s what we’re supposed to. Our job is to help people in need.”
Catholic Charities put together 30 bags of nonperishable items and 30 bags of perishable items, including items like fruit, vegetables, and meat together to feed Mercy Home’s families. The perishable items came in reusable totes that our families can use on future shopping trips.
“Mercy Home and Catholic Charities have had a close intertwining of like missions and friendship,” Kathy Donahue, the Acting Administrator, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, said. “Of course we should be sharing resources and holding each other up during this time of pandemic! Why didn’t we try this sooner?”
Mario Tamayo, manager of youth program operations, is one of the Mercy Home coworkers who has been delivering the groceries to families in need.
He said that one drop-off trip really sticks out to him because of the reaction of the recipients.
“It stood out to me because the little boy, his face just lit up [when he saw what I was delivering],” Tamayo said.
The groceries are making a huge difference in the lives of so many families.
“Some people out there are really hurting, some people don’t want to get out to the grocery store because they’re afraid,” Tamayo said. “There’s been a couple of people that have [said], ‘thank you so much, you guys are out there and that allows us to be safe.’ I think that’s a way that Mercy is helping.”
Gutierrez added that Catholic Charities is looking forward to continue partnering with Mercy Home throughout the pandemic and beyond.
“We’re extremely ecstatic and happy that we’re able to partner on this particular project but also look forward to partnering on other projects as well, particularly as we’re all trying to help those in need in whichever way we can.”
As the need continues to grow over the coming weeks, Catholic Charities plans to continue supporting Mercy Home. We are thankful for their friendship and support during this difficult time!
