The multiplication of the loaves and fishes — SCC style!

“One reason Our Lady’s Pantry has been able to remain open throughout the Pandemic is because of the generosity of this community,” says director Tom Bullaro.

“Most recently, we have been the benefactors of a food drive hosted by the Sun City Center Woman’s Club,” he says.  “It was wonderful!  The food drive was held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on October 15.  We received more than 80 boxes of food as a result!

“This donation is especially meaningful to us, because our food supply has been interrupted, because of the coronavirus. Previously, we purchased most of our food from Feeding Tampa Bay at greatly reduced or wholesale prices.  Feeding Tampa Bay must now share their food supply among more pantries and neighborhoods, however, leaving less for us.  We now purchase muchof our food from local markets.

Woman dressed as witch announcing food drive

Sun City Center Women's Club announcing Food Drive for Our Lady's Pantry

Woman’s Club president Sally Barclay says the Club chooses a charity every month.  The Club then gives whatever each charity needs.

“The way the world is today, people are waiting in lines for food,” she says.  “We wanted to help.”

Marie Rueger, who serves the Club as Home Life Committee chair, reports that Thursday’s food drive yielded 1,866 items of food for an estimated value of $5,697.

“We also collected $1,006 in cash to give to the Pantry.”

Eleven women stand in front of Pantry truck

The Women's Club collected 80 big boxes of food for Our Lady's Pantry valued at about $5,700!

The General Federation of Woman’s Club (GFWC) is the largest volunteer organization in the world!  The 89 women in the Sun City Center Chapter meet monthly (currently on Zoom) from September through May on the third Thursday of the month to address the most pressing needs of our community.  If you would like more information about the local Woman’s Club, please go to https://sccwomansclub.org.  If you wish to become a member, kindly email membership chair, Linda Raymond at: sumrluv21@aol.com

“We thank the Woman’s Club for the kindness of this donation,” says Bullaro.  “In fact, the Woman’s Club has been supporting us for years.  We want everyone to know that 192 clients came to us for food on October 17.  All the food collected on Thursday, October 15, was in our clients’ homes two days later, where it was enjoyed by hundreds of men, women, and children.”