Hanging out at the food bank

Today my employer, Capital One Bank, arranged for about 25 of us associates to volunteer at the Covington Food Bank.  This is part of a week long effort across the entire footprint of the bank to have everyone participate in a week of service.  I was glad to be at the Covington Food Bank today because it is a ministry I'm very familiar with.

For many years I helped conduct food drives and deliver food to the food bank.  Tucked away in a poorer section of the Northshore community of Covington, LA, the food bank provides necessary food and other support to the poor of the community.  Sometimes the definition of poor can include those who fall on bad times; loss of a job, catastrophic medical expenses, and special circumstances.  This once tiny food bank has grown over the years, first because of Hurricane Katrina and now the depressed economy and resulting job market.

The food bank serves all people but it has a decidely Catholic flair as most of the workers and volunteers come from several Catholic parishes across the Northshore.  For certain though, there are many hard workers from several faith traditions and the food bank serves all that qualify for help.

Our efforts today included sorting food, unloading donations and loading up clients who patiently wait in line for their two week supply of food.  All of our associates really enjoyed their day of volunteer service.

Remarkably, the director, Deacon Tom Caffery, showed everyone the other ministries hosted by the food bank; a thrift store, a debtal clinic served by volunteer dentists and a Vicentenian center(named for St. Vincent de Paul) that provides some financial assistance.

I was humbled today, as both an associate of the bank and a Catholic Deacon, to meet three families applying for help and pooring out their own very personal very moving stories.



May God continue to bless the efforts of these outstanding workers and volunteers and may He bless all families who seek help from this great facility.

Here is their website
http://www.foodbankofcovington.org/