Lenten Food Drive A Huge Success

Organizers for the Lenten food drive at St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh set a goal of collecting at least 10,000 shelf-staple grocery items to benefit the Newburgh Area Food Pantry. St. John the Baptist School also coordinated a Lenten food drive, and organizers asked students to collect and donate different food items each week.

The parish also held Lenten Almsgiving Collections after weekend Masses to benefit the poor.

So … how did things turn out? Missions accomplished!

The parish collected more than 11,000 food items during the drive, and generous parishioners contributed more than $11,000 through the weekend Almsgiving Collections.

"This will help tremendously to get us through the summer need," said Carol Schmitt, director of the Newburgh Area Food Pantry, which serves the needy in the 47630 zip code. "Thank you to all who have donated and participated. We appreciate everything, and every bit helps."

Now that we have entered the Easter season, the parish isn’t halting its effort. Food items can be dropped off year-round at the Newburgh Food Pantry or the St. John the Baptist Parish Office. For more information, call the parish office at 812-490-1000.