St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Pacific Grove is providing for ever-growing needs of those in the Monterey Peninsula

by June Henry

St. Mary’s Pantry is open weekly on 
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-2pm.
Upon comparing May 2024 with May 2023 the Pantry visits have increased approximately:
13% for Households served
16% for Household Members
15% for Seniors 
10% for Unhoused
Children remained roughly the same. 

St. Marys has recently reopened “The Store Next Door”(closed since Covid) providing access to gently used & new clothing, shoes, jackets, sleeping bags & miscellaneous household items. This is open 8 days per month (as compared to the 3 days per week that the Pantry is open.) This is hugely popular and fills a great need. St. Marys is always happy to receive donations of clothing items, especially jackets and coats in addition to blankets and sleeping bags. If you or those you know wish to donate such items, please contact me and I would be happy to transport them to St. Mary’s. 

St. Mary’s currently receives from the Monterey Food Bank a large weekly delivery of produce and canned/shelf stable items. The price charged to the Pantry is hugely reduced but has increased as we have all experienced with the items we purchase in the market.  St. Mary’s also receives 3 weekly deliveries from Lucky's (collected by volunteers) which include dairy items, eggs, bread and desserts. 

St. Mary’s has discontinued providing gas cards but still provides some bus passes. They have also had to greatly reduce their provision of once yearly financial assistance to those requesting it as St Mary’s has had to add a couple of shopping trips per month to help accommodate the increased need for the Pantry items. 

In general it has been a bleak time for many. I totally enjoy working there a couple of times a week and do feel blessed to have conversations with the guests that I see, most of whom have become real friends. Despite the tough circumstances it is mostly a highlight of my week.