We're Updating Our Website!
It's time for a redesign.
Within the next month, keep an eye out for a shiny, new version of our website, with new pictures, stories, links, and updates to our programs and events. We're excited to share the hard work our team has done to keep our website up-to-date and reflective of our day-to-day operations. Don't worry, you'll find it at the same webpage as before, but with a much needed facelift!
Thank you to everyone who is helping keep St. Peter's online presence effective, modern, and classy!
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Our Immediate Needs
With the holidays fast approaching, we're going the extra mile to make sure that the families that rely on us will have what they need to make the season nourishing for the body and soul.
Beverages - Individually Packaged or Powdered Drink Mixes
Spices - Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder
Canned Cranberries
Plastic Silverware & Lunch Napkins
Cereals & Oatmeal
Boxed Macaroni and Cheese
Brown Sugar
Sliced Cheese & Sliced Deli Meats
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~ Special Call for Donations ~
New Toys for the Holiday Toy Store
Each Christmas season, we host a toy "store" where families can pick out several toys for the children in their lives. We also provide wrapping paper and blankets for the adults, making an exciting Christmas morning possible. Nearly half of all children in downtown Rochester live in poverty, and we believe that the joy and love that are the foundation of the holiday season are just as life-sustaining as a balanced meal.
More information about this event will be shared in the coming weeks.
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Happy trails, Caren!
It’s truly bittersweet to announce that Caren Scott has retired from St. Peter’s Kitchen. Since joining St. Peter’s in 2019, Caren has filled multiple roles, including managing the food pantry and as our Assistant Director. A consummate team player, Caren was always ready to lend a hand to keep our operations running smoothly and help anyone in need. All of us at St. Peter’s will miss her warm smile, easygoing personality, and distinctive New England accent. We wish Caren all the best as she swaps work deadlines for camping trips, kayaking, and spending time with her grandkids. Thank you, Caren!
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Welcome to our first AmeriCorps member, Julia Cilano!
We're excited to partner with AmeriCorps, and specifically its subsection the Notre Dame Mission Volunteers of America, to bring Julia Cilano to St. Peter's. AmeriCorps is a national organization that sends stipended volunteers to nonprofits across the country, where they work full-time for a year. Julia is a recent graduate from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and she is taking a gap year before pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She is eager to serve her community and support St. Peter's mission. She helps with our daily operations, design and outreach, the website, and who knows, maybe the occasional newsletter...
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There's Always Room For One More: The Consistent Rise in Numbers at St. Peter's
Staff at St. Peter's have been recording data about our impact for many years, and the numbers we serve just keep growing. Looking back to 2003, we served approximately 35,000 meals a year. This year, we served a similar number between the months of July and September.
It's important to note that several programs have been added since 2003, like our support of REACH Advocacy's Project Haven and our weekend bags. These programs, as well as our lunch program's to-go containers, have made it possible for us to distribute more meals to more people. Accounting for all of the variables and the fluctuations we regularly see each month, we're still seeing our numbers, particularly for our lunch program, get higher than they ever have before.
For a while, 288 meals in our one hour lunch time was our record, but in this past October, we reached 314, then 337, then 340, and then 350, all within two weeks. On the bright side, this means that more people know to come to St. Peter's for support, but it also means that more people need support and that the larger problems creating food insecurity aren't being solved.
This is a nationwide phenomenon, and the United States has been trying and failing to end poverty for generations. Check out this New York Times article about American poverty, how it's been a stagnant fact in our country for decades, the insidious forces exploiting those already struggling, and how we can move forward into a future where all of us will be housed, fed, and thriving.
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Volunteer Spotlight: FTS
Recently, FTS, an employment recruiting service in Fairport, hosted a winter clothing giveaway in our parking lot, supplying much-needed coats, haves, and scarves to our community. Dozens of FTS staff operated the giveaway as well as helped with our lunch program, plating a record-breaking 350 meals! We're so grateful for their continued support and generosity. Click here to learn more about FTS.
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Reflecting on our 7th Annual Golf Tournament
Our golf tournament at Eagle Vale Golf Club was such a blast! This year, almost one hundred golfers participated in raffles, shared lunch, and played golf in the sunshine. Thanks to your incredible generosity and the generosity of the event's sponsors, we raised $14,500!
We hope to see you next year for our 8th Annual Golf Tournament on September 6th. Sign up information will be available in a few months, but until then, save the date and pray for good weather!
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The Westside Market Pantry
This summer, we had the opportunity to expand our pantry program to the Westside Farmer's Market at St. Monica's Church. Each Tuesday evening from May to mid-October, we packed up a van full of goodies from our pantry, like bread, frozen meats, and canned goods, and we hosted a pop-up of our usual pantry, supplying families with three days' worth of food. Once there, we purchased fresh produce from the farmers present to distribute to our community members, guaranteeing delicious, homegrown nutrition.
We're grateful to have met more of our neighbors and to have participated in such a warm and welcoming environment. From the new friends and larger community to the live music, we can't wait for next summer!
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