Throughout the Gospels our Lord encourages us to feed the hungry. The most spectacular of these occasions was the “feeding of the multitude” when Jesus took just five loaves of bread and two fish and multiplied them, making enough for 5,000 people.
The immediate message of this passage seems obvious: to not be discouraged by how many need to be fed or by how little we may have to do so. Yet, a closer examination of the passage tells us something more. Notable is the concern of the Apostles who implored Jesus to send the crowd away to, “buy food for themselves.” His response to their apprehension is crystal clear: “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” (Matt. 14:16)
It was simply not enough that people be fed. Jesus was plainly instructing His disciples to personally engage themselves in the ministry of feeding the hungry. Indeed, Jesus Himself often shared meals with sinners, tax collectors and those who society considered outcasts.
Today, our diocesan Catholic Charities takes that lesson to heart and breaks bread with neighbors who might otherwise be forgotten. It is in the simple act of sharing that we express compassion and solidarity and come closer to true communion with our Lord.
Catholic Charities of Long Island maintains three distinct ministries that provide food and nutrition services on Long Island.
- Senior Services offer a Meals-On-Wheels (MOW) program that delivers hot, nutritious meals to the homebound throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. And for those with special dietary needs there are frozen, kosher and even low-salt options available.
Meanwhile, Catholic Charities’ three Senior Community Service Centers and two congregate meal sites also offer daily meals as well as recreation, health services, and socialization opportunities to local seniors. Together these programs serve more than 300,000 meals per year.
- Catholic Charities’ Nutrition Outreach Education Program (NOEP) works to educate low-income families as to what food programs and services are available. Catholic Charities offers free, confidential pre-screening for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps and even provide application assistance and advocacy to make sure they receive benefits.
These services are available right in their own communities or through NOEP offices in Nassau and Suffolk. More than 10,000 people come to Catholic Charities’ NOEP for help each year.
- The Catholic Charities’ Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program serves pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women and their children who are at nutritional risk. Catholic Charities improve the health and well-being of these young families at our four WIC locations where food assistance, nutrition education, breastfeeding help, and health screenings are provided.
Charities’ collaboration with Catholic Health (CH) and more than 100 parishes makes it possible for it to serve an average of 3,000 people each month.
Catholic Charities are the hands that do the work of our Church’s heart.
To support any of these programs, please call (516) 733-7028.
To volunteer, call (516) 733-7044.