It’s well before dawn on a frigid January day, and Janet LePage is already on her way to Holy Family Church in Old Town. Janet is the chef for the monthly community meal served in the church hall, and on this day, she needs to bake more than 150 large russet potatoes, which will later be topped with a choice of chili, broccoli and cheese, bacon bits, butter, or all of the above.

“I try to vary the meals. I’m having lasagna next month. I have had turkey pie. I do all kinds of things,” says Janet. “It’s something that people really look forward to, and I try to make it nutritious.”

The community meal is a ministry of the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord’s Matthew 25 Commission. It is offered on the fourth Monday of the month and is paired with the Holy Family Food Pantry, which regularly serves between 80 and 100 families.

“They were doing 20 families when it was over in the thrift store. That was probably 10 years ago, so it’s grown, grown, grown over the years. I think people just need the help,” says Janet.

“We have a very large elderly population, with four elderly houses, and so I think that contributes to it. They live on a limited budget, so this helps,” says Kathy Shorette, one of the co-directors of the pantry and community meal.

In addition to those who are able to come to the pantry, food and meals are also provided to the nearby Penobscot River House, a senior housing complex.

The food pantry and monthly meal are generously supported by parishioners as well as by community members. They also receive some of the proceeds from the Holy Family Thrift Store.

“They sell products there, and then we get a certain amount of that to use for food every month. The Daughters of Isabella donate fresh fruits and vegetables every month. We have parishioners who donate a lot, and the Knights have been known to have food drives at a local grocery store, and that contributes a lot. The police and the fire stations also have food drives, and the bank has a peanut butter and jelly drive,” says Janet, who does the shopping.

Because the pantry does not rely on the government for food, it can offer a greater variety of items and can serve anyone who stops in.

“It’s open to everybody, the general public. We don’t take financial information or anything like that,” says Kathy.

Those who use the food pantry and stay for the community meal say they are grateful to have both available.

“I’m one of those people who only takes what I need, what I’m going to use,” says Cheryl Wood, a Bradley resident, who is a retired certified nursing assistant. “Sometimes it makes a difference. The extra meals, they will tide me over until my Social Security comes in.”

“I just actually learned about it five months ago,” says Corey Seelye of Old Town. “This helps a lot for me, especially the meals because I only get a hundred in food stamps, so it doesn’t really last.”

 A former home healthcare worker, Corey says he is on disability after two bouts with cancer. He says he has found it difficult to ask for help but says the volunteers always make him feel comfortable.

“I’m not intimidated to come in. It’s really welcoming and nice,” he says. “I’m blessed for it.”

The volunteers say it is rewarding to know that their efforts are making a difference.

“It’s a corporal work of mercy, reaching out to others, taking care of those who are more in need,” says Cindy Labbe of Old Town, who has volunteered for more than 20 years.

“I was secretary for nine years under Father Bill [Labbe], and I know a lot of these people who used to come into the office. They’re lovely people, and they are so appreciative. It does your heart good to do something nice for somebody. It’s just the best feeling in the world,” says Sue Cust of Old Town, a volunteer who, along with her husband, Alan, heads up the funeral luncheon committee.

Around 20 volunteers regularly help at the food pantry and community meal, packing up bags of produce, helping clients select items, carrying bags to vehicles, or helping to prepare and serve the community meal and to clean up afterwards. Middle school religious education students also contribute by stacking items on pantry shelves.

“It’s just giving back. I enjoy giving back to people,” says Paula Sprague of Milford, who began volunteering after she retired five years ago.

“I’ve been doing it at least 10 years, back to when it used to be over in the thrift shop,” says Duane Brasslett, one of the co-directors. “It’s just interesting meeting the people and knowing that I’m helping people out. It is definitely important. There are a lot of people who really need it out there.”

“They’re so appreciative. You almost feel guilty because you get so much back from them,” says Sharon Roberts Corcoron of Old Town, a longtime volunteer. “With the price of food and with the government shutting down, it has been really tough for people.”

“You think, what could once a month do? But for the people that it helps, it can mean everything,” says Father Brad Morin, pastor. “It could mean the difference between falling into despair or clinging to hope.”

Father Morin and the volunteers say having the meal on the same day as the food pantry has proved to be a winning combination. Because the meal is not only enjoyed by pantry clients but also by parishioners, staff, volunteers, and even University of Maine students, it helps build a sense of community and belonging.

“I've met a lot of people that I wouldn’t have known otherwise,” says Cheryl.  “I think it’s wonderful. I look forward to it.”

“Having the opportunity to stay and linger for a little bit opens up that conversation more and opens up the possibility for God to work,” says Father Morin. “We’re helping to meet the corporal need of feeding their bodies, but there are always ways in which we’re thinking of how can we invite them to the deeper question of how to feed their soul.”

“Our Matthew 25 Commission is not only concerned with the physical well-being of the members of our community but also their social and emotional well-being. We strive to make sure needs are met and work to enrich the soul and to form bonds and connection with others,” says Jeannette Bernard, a member of the commission.

For their efforts to feed both body and soul, the Matthew 25 Commission was honored with this year’s Matthew 25 Award, given by Catholic Charities Maine’s Parish Social Ministry (PSM). The award carries with it a $6,000 grant.

“The food programs of Parish of the Resurrection are outward signs of the faith at work. The Apostle James asks, ‘If one of you says go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?’ The selection committee noted that the award would support three programs, a food pantry that supplies immediate needs, a hot lunch for community members who may also lack connection with others, and funeral luncheons,” says Deacon Frank Daggett, director of PSM.

“When we are united to Christ in love, action follows naturally. Service flows from a communion,” says Bishop James Ruggieri, who presented the award during a Mass celebrated on February 8.

The parish used the award to buy a new freezer. The former one had broken down several times resulting in lost food and last-minute scrambling.

“I was ecstatic because we really do need it,” says Jeannette, who submitted the application for the award. 

“I’ve been holding off buying stuff as long as I can, trying to just make the best of it, but we’re so happy that we’re going to have a freezer again,” says Janet.

 In addition to the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, Christ the King Parish in Skowhegan also received a grant through the Catholic Charities Maine Parish Social Ministry Matthew 25 program. The parish received $4,000, which will be used for jail ministry. Members of the parish have been bringing Christ to residents of the Somerset County Jail for 10 years, and during that time, the ministry has continued to grow.