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.
Christ the King Pantry “Food for Thought”
Reporting all the incredible activity of the CTK Pantry and beyond
Updating:
- Much to everyone’s delight, the loading dock is now operational! Additionally, through a generous donation, an electric pallet jack has been purchased and is now in use. The “Tuesday Team” is now unloading the Pantry truck in record time.
The truck & dock on even footing!
An electric pallet is a thing of beauty!
• Demolition of a designated section of the interior of the Parish Hall has begun (July 28) – and is expected to continue for the next couple of months.
• CTK Pantry operations was inspected by Greater Boston Food Bank personnel, and passed with flying colors. Inspectors advised that CTK “is the best run, most efficient pantry they had visited”.
Upcoming:
• The Pantry has received a grant from the Greater Boston Food Bank. These funds will partially cover the acquisition and installation of a walk-in refrigerator (which will be installed next to the walk-in freezer.) The refrigerator has been ordered and is expected soon.
Word is Out:
• Deacon Fantasia provided a presentation of the CTK pantry to the Mashpee/Barnstable Rotary Club. This presentation was well received & may well result in donations from that group.
CTK Oasis is “IT”:
• A meeting was held with Falmouth Service Center for additional information on a more comprehensive use of Oasis (see F&RA section of this Newsletter).
• Development of the metric dashboard (for processing and reporting) is substantially complete.
Nutritional Value is Key:
• Pantry personnel continue in their efforts to ensure the nutritional value of our orders from the GBFB utilizing our home-grown inventory system.
Inventory Control is Essential and our Inventory Control Model:
• Ensures the best possible monitoring of orders from the GBFB.
Note: While GBFB had been adversely impacted by reduction in government funding, they have been able to continue their operation unimpeded due to some very generous private donations.
What do our clients think:
• Development of comprehensive surveys (for feedback from clients) is expected to be completed within the next couple of weeks.
Volunteers are Moving for Charity:
• Our own Pantry Volunteer – Emmet Davitt, & his son, will, on September 3, set out on a journey & a mission – Pedaling for an ALS cure. They will embark on a 3000-mile bike ride from Calais, Maine to Key West Florida to raise awareness & funding for the Angel Fund for ALS Research. Emmet’s family (and, as he states, so many other families) have been painfully touched by this dreadful (always fatal) disease. Read more about Emmet’s & Patrick’s incredible journey & how you can support their ride: https://theangelfund.org/project/riding-for-research-peddaling-for-a-cure/
Volunteers who have participated in an event to raise awareness & funding for a special cause, & who would like that reflected in a future version of this Newsletter should reach out to Deacon Frank Fantasia with pertinent information.
What else is happening in Matthew 25:
• Our F&RA (Financial and Resource Assistance) Caseworkers (in an effort to assist clients in managing their electric bills) met with 2 representatives of Eversource to more fully understand the various programs that company has available to assist their customers. The representatives provided a comprehensive presentation of programs, income levels of eligibility, current information on fuel assistance, & elements of Eversource billing.
• Several F&RA Caseworkers and Pantry Volunteers met with the Falmouth Service Center for a demonstration on how that organization merges their Pantry operation with their Financial Assistance & Holiday programs within the Oasis system – to allow for a comprehensive secure view of client activity on all fronts. This meeting is key for F&RA to determine if this makes sense for CTK F&RA going forward.
And then there are:
• Thrift Shop – Pantry and F&RA clients may receive vouchers for the Thrift Shop, while affordable prices help all customers to make ends meet. This enables all to obtain a wide variety of items (women’s/men’s/children’s clothing, shoes, and various accessories). It also helps those needing comforters, blankets, sheets, towels, curtains, tablecloths, small appliances and a wide variety of household items. Donations received directly benefit our community and what is available depends upon what is donated. The Shop is open Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays 9A – 3P and donations are accepted on those days until noon.
• St. Joseph House (homeless shelter) meals – This CTK ministry has been providing hot dinners on Tuesday evenings for 60-70 guests for 30+ years – and has expanded from its inception to the current roster of 6 teams with 8-10 cooks on each team.
Lord Jesus, who multiplied the loaves and fishes, and called us to feed the hungry, be with us. Open our hearts to see the gift of you in each person. Open our ears to hear their joys and struggles.
Vol 3 0825
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.