Northern area parishes establish Mary’s Closet
By Eileen Jevis, staff writer
“Oswego County is one of the neediest counties in our Diocese,” said Fr. Joseph Scardella, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Fulton. “More than 51% of the county’s population is on some form of public assistance. People are struggling financially and there is a growing number of homeless individuals and families who are in special need.”
Father Scardella said that the area food pantries are utilized regularly. According to a March 28 article on Syracuse.com, the Food Bank of Central New York is preparing to lose about 1.7 million pounds of food shipments in the coming months due to funding cuts for two local food assistance programs. The article states that the cutbacks will eliminate about 6.5% of the food the not-for-profit supplies each year to soup kitchens, food pantries and emergency shelters in an 11-county region.
To help serve the hungry, Holy Trinity Parish began hosting a free community dinner on the last Wednesday of each month. “When we began, attendance seemed low, but we soon noticed an increasing number of families who came for a meal,” Fr. Scardella said. “On one occasion, we noticed a family whose children had no shoes. That was one of the reasons we started Mary’s Closet — a joint venture with St. Stephen’s Church in Phoenix and in partnership with Oswego County Catholic Charities that provides essential items for mothers and babies.
“Every good program starts with someone saying ‘yes’,” said Shelly Shepard, a parishioner at Holy Trinity and one of the organizers. The shop is the brainchild of Fr. Scardella,” said Shepard. “Our endeavor was created based on a nationwide initiative ‘Walking With Moms in Need.’ Like many small towns in America, our city of Fulton and the village of Phoenix have lost our industrial base, therefore, there are fewer jobs and a much higher level of poverty,” she said.
Shepard, a member of the Respect Life Committee, said the church is on the front lines to educate people about abortion and support those who keep their babies but find motherhood sometimes very challenging. Mary’s Closet is there to assist them with items such as diapers, baby wipes, bottles and pacifiers, children’s socks and shoes, plush blankets and receiving blankets, toys and books. Clean, gently used clothing up to size 6X, children’s washcloths and towels, as well as personal care items for mothers (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, brushes, combs, deodorant) are also much-needed items.
Margaret Woodruff, co-organizer of Mary’s Closet, said that in addition to providing essential items for mothers and children, the ministry can refer them to other support organizations in the county. “We extend special thanks to Catholic Charities of Oswego County and Birthright in Syracuse for their generosity in mentoring us and supplying us with many items, resources and ideas to begin this new venture.”
“Oswego Catholic Charities (CC) is very excited about Mary’s Closet and is thrilled to help out,” said executive director Mary-Margaret Pekow. “There is so much need and the more organizations and people willing to assist enables us to help those who are struggling.” Catholic Charities has been attending the community dinners, providing various hygiene products. Pekow said that this newly formed partnership has encouraged some of the parishioners to volunteer at CC. “They are helping with our pantry and our store that have been greatly impacted due to FEMA funds being frozen. We rely on various community and corporate partners for their support and volunteerism. Holy Trinity Parish is another wonderful example of people working together to help lessen the burdens of others.”
Mary’s Closet is an initiative of Holy Trinity/St. Stephen’s Family/Respect Life Ministry. It was established to assist and support young moms who are in need. Located in the former St. Mary’s School in Fulton, it will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations are greatly appreciated. Bins for donated items are located in the sacristy at Holy Trinity and the vestibule at St. Stephen’s. For more information, contact Shelly Shepard at 315-591-8084 or the parish office at 315-598- 2118.
