Knights make day good at Helping Center
Video: Watch it on
the 3-24-10 Picayune RoundUp
on ThePicayuneTV.com
MARBLE FALLS — Though some folks are glum Monday mornings, Sue Kennedy was all smiles as she walked out of the Helping Center and saw the bags of groceries piled in the bed of Al Pawlik’s pickup.
"Oh my, that looks so good," the Helping Center director said with a big grin. She clapped Pawlik on the back. "I’m so grateful for you all."
Pawlik, his wife Marian Pawlik and Bob DeChene dropped off another load of groceries for the food pantry donated by parishioners of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
PHOTO 1: Al Pawlik (left) of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church’s Knights of Columbus hands over one of several bags of groceries to Sue Kennedy and J.D. Medlock of the Marble Falls Helping Center. The Marble Falls parish collects 70-80 bags of groceries every month and donates them to the food pantry. They visited the facility Monday morning. Staff photos by Daniel Clifton
PHOTO 2: Al Pawlik (left) of the Knights of Columbus from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Marble Falls, Marian Pawlik of the Lady Knights and J.D. Medlock of the Marble Falls Helping Center unload a pickup laden with groceries Monday morning at the food pantry. The St. John’s parishioners collect an average of $800 worth of groceries every month for the center. The Knights of Columbus serve as the point group for the food drive and make the monthly delivery.
"This is the third year we’ve been doing this," DeChene said.
The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic service organization, helps spearhead the food drive, but Al Pawlik said the church members deserve all the credit.
"It’s a parishwide effort," he said.
DeChene said the Knights and Lady Knights pass out grocery bags the second Sunday of the month to the congregation. Then the parishioners return them the third Sunday filled with groceries. Pawlik or other Knights then deliver the full bags to the Helping Center the third Monday of each month.
"We’re averaging about $850 worth of groceries every month," DeChene said. "Everybody (at St. John’s) chips in. Even the kids help out with this. It’s something we see really helps our community."
The Helping Center, 1315 Broadway, provides food for local residents who are struggling financially.
Officials said the demand on the food pantry has increased over the past year as families ride out the country’s economic crisis. While a lot of attention is focused on holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, officials say food is needed all year.
For more information on the center or to help, call (830) 693-5689.