by Katie Vasquez
New York City shelters and food pantries are struggling under the migrant crisis this Christmas season,
but the pantry at one queens church has some extra help, thanks to some student volunteers from St. Francis prep.
On the menu for one particular week, baked chicken, baked ziti, salad and fruit. The soup kitchen at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Jamaica, Queens has been feeding the hungry for almost 40 years and helping them for almost half that time, students from St. Francis Prep.
The extra hands are greatly appreciated and needed. A few years ago the kitchen would feed about 150 people per week, but now that number has doubled as the migrant crisis currently overwhelms New York City shelters and food pantries.
Even at Presentation, the line for food starts forming hours before the kitchen opens. For the church, they feel it’s their duty as Catholics to help.
“It is a blessing that the Lord may help us, you know, on one hand, you know, to give back to the people, even though it is not that we have many resources in our church,” said pastor at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Father Victor Manuel Bolaños.
For the St. Francis Prep volunteers, it puts a face to poverty.
“We talk about the gospel with our students and we want to show them this is the gospel in action,” said the director of campus ministry at St. Francis prep, Christian Sullivan.
“I didn’t realize how many little kids were going to be here as well, so it was kind of sad. but at the same time, I knew that it was helping them coming here,” said St. Francis Prep student, Lori Melville.
“I guess it, in a way, humbles me because, like, it makes me like, actually see what’s going on. like, outside of just like, you know, luxury and stuff like that,” said St. Francs Prep student, Benjamin Liu.
A few weeks ago the food pantry at Presentation served 500 people, and they actually ran out of food.
The church and the St. Francis Prep volunteers are going to do as much as they can to help their community.