Pastoral and Charitable Outreach of Christ the King Parish
Care in the Name of Christ ~ Funded by the Matthew 25 Fund. The arms of service are, Christ the King Food Pantry and the Financial & Resource Assistance Ministry.
We give without regard to creed, race or nationality.
Matthew 25 Fund Charitable Giving – our source of funding for the charitable works done through our parish.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me.’ Matthew 25 Fund, caring for the poor by helping our neighbors in need.”
Matthew 25 Fund: Gathering All Our Charitable Gifts in One Place
In the 25th Chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew Jesus asks all of his followers to recognize that it is he himself whom they serve and bless whenever they seek to help others in need. Every Christian Community demonstrates the authenticity of its discipleship through the charitable good works they embrace together to alleviate the sufferings of the poorer and less fortunate people “at their gate.”
The efforts of Christ the King Parish in this regard which are described in further detail below depend on both volunteers to do the work and benefactors to fund these good works. For over 6 years, all donations, including monthly tithes from the Thrift Shop, occasional community and governmental sources, and very generous parishioner or others contributions, have been placed in the Matthew 25 Fund. The purpose of this special fund is to sequester these donations so as to use them only for the purpose for which they have been given by preventing them from being mixed into other parish accounts that fund operations or upkeep of parish buildings and grounds.
Funds from the Matthew 25 Fund pay invoices from the Boston Food Bank, our main supplier of food items to an average of 125 needy households in the greater Mashpee area each week through the Christ the King Food Pantry. It also supports the Financial and Resource Assistance Ministry, helping people with housing, utilities, and transportation costs. Additionally, funds collected through the annual Giving Tree campaign help make Christmas merrier for the less fortunate families and their children.
The Parish’s Annual Report always includes an accounting of the money collected and distributed through The Matthew 25 Fund. To donate, write a check to “CTK – Mathew 25”, select that option online, or place a contribution in the Poor Boxes at the church entrances. Your generosity is crucial for our Parish charity!
Some give by doing, others do by giving.
Please give generously; the needs are great!
Christ the King Food Pantry
Our operating hours are every Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
We are a “drive-thru” operation.
Currently, we are serving an average of 125 households per week. Our objective remains to provide each family with sufficient food for five consecutive days.
We have assembled a team of over 100 dedicated volunteers who diligently assist us in various ways. On Tuesdays, they load our pantry box truck with approximately 6,000 pounds of food. Subsequently, they set up and distribute the food on Wednesdays. Additionally, they make daily trips to local grocery stores to collect “rescue foods.”We are funded primarily by donations made to the Matthew 25 fund, by generous financial donors from parishioners, including a monthly donation from the parish Thrift Shop, community organizations (Town of Mashpee and Mashpee Firefighters), and local companies, as well as local supermarkets. Over the past year, the pantry has implemented new software, which has significantly enhanced our ability to serve our clients and streamline our record-keeping processes.
Our service area encompasses Mashpee, Cotuit, and Marstons Mills, but we never turn away anyone in need.
Here is a video you might enjoy: “What We Do At the Pantry” from our fundraising event for the pantry expansion.
Financial and Resource Assistance Ministry
Our Mission is to provide financial and resource assistance to help our neighbors in need.
Financial Assistance is never given directly to the client; rather, payment is made directly to the provider of services based on the client’s submission of appropriate bill/invoice
containing provider name, address, phone and client’s account number (where appropriate).
Through the generous donations of parishioners to the CTK Matthew 25 Fund as well as contributors to the CTK Golf Classic, during the 2024 calendar year, the Financial and Resource Assistance Caseworkers provided emergency financial assistance to 110 fully vetted clients representing 225 family members in our area. This assistance enabled these families to move forward. Payments were made directly to vendors, landlords, and other entities on behalf of these clients, addressing their essential needs, including:
Rent and mortgage payments to prevent eviction and foreclosure.
Utility payments to prevent electric shut-offs and ensure adequate heating during winter.
Childcare and car repair expenses to facilitate clients’ ability to continue working or searching for employment.
Facilitating The Giving Tree campaign, helping to make Christmas a bit merrier for families in need, especially their children.
In addition to financial assistance, caseworkers also provided clients (and those who were not eligible for our financial aid) with contact information for other organizations on Cape Cod that may offer further support and resources to enhance their success.
Your support has been vitally important to our efforts, and we truly appreciate your kindness and generosity.