2020 Diocesan Ministries Appeal

Argentina’s Story

Day in and day out, when someone is in need of food, the Father English Center Food Pantry in Paterson has be there for the thousands and thousands who come each month seeking to feed their families.                                                  

 Argentina is grateful since it provides food for her family of six which includes four generations of family members – her elderly parents, an adult daughter with special needs and her young granddaughter.
 
“The staff calls me by my name there at the food pantry. They are good people and they treat all the people very well,” said Argentina, who is touched by the dignity they give her even though, she’s in great need. She works part time because she needs to care for her father almost full time.
 
The food pantry at Father English provides good and healthy food according to Argentina. “Everything is fresh. Yesterday they gave me bread which came from the bakery,” she said.
 
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the need for the Father English Food Pantry has been unprecedented. During the month of April 2020, 13,000 individuals, who are feeling the direct economic impact of COVID-19, visited the food pantry.
 
With the current crisis, Carlos Roldan, executive director of Catholic Charities food pantries said, “Before the pandemic this was a regular part of our program to give food out to clients – people needing assistance who after paying their bills simply needed food. Now, this is a real emergency that we have not experienced before. The people are very scared and they have nothing. We keep on delivering food and the phone calls keep coming.”  
 
Because of social distancing, the food pantry has had to give the food to clients outside the doors of its Main Street building in Paterson. It usually operates as a consumer’s choice food pantry or a supermarket style food pantry in which the clients can choose the groceries they want or need. It is considered a model food pantry around the country. 
 
Argentina believes it’s a blessing to have the food pantry. She said, “I am thankful for the people who help Catholic Charities through the Diocesan Ministries Appeal (formerly the Bishop’s Annual Appeal). Without the help, I don’t know how I would be able to feed my family.”