Since October, Good Samaritan in Ambridge, along with Our Lady of Peace in Conway, Saint John the Baptist in Baden, and Saints John and Paul in Franklin Park work collectively as the "Great Grouping," a reorganization of parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh thats expected to be completed next year. Volunteers operate a food bank, cook a hot meal once a week, and work with the YMCA to supply schoolchildren with meals.

AMBRIDGE Vehicles line the parking lot of Good Samaritan Parish on Glenwood Avenue at least 15 minutes before its food pantry opens. People come not only to receive boxes of canned goods; fresh fruit and produce; bread; milk; butter; juices; and frozen meat, but also for Tuesday evenings bonus: a free, hot, take-out meal.

Ron Genauldi of Ambridge, driving an older-model Chevy van, comes once a week. Immediately, a volunteer rushes to greet him.

Genauldi asks about the hot meal, which this night is chicken enchilada, Mexican rice, and mixed fruit cubes.

Hell take one.

"How about a box of produce?"

Genauldi says hes still eating the last one he got.

"I think the ministrys great for the community, especially Ambridge, especially the people that dont know they need to be down here to get some free food and some help in any way they can because they need it whether they know it or not and its a friendly place, too," he says.

Many do need it now.

Last month, The Times reported the areas April jobless rate largely due to the novel coronavirus lockdown was the highest since the collapse of the steel industry in the 1980s. Roughly 15,900 Beaver County residents were out of work. The countys unemployment rate was 18.7 percent the regions second highest up from its March jobless rate of 6.4 percent, according to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Labor and Industry. More than 2 million Pennsylvanians have filed for unemployment since mid-March.

And thats when Good Samaritan and three area Catholic churches ramped programs to serve the needy, not only in Ambridge, but surrounding communities. Some come as far as Ohio.

Since October, Good Samaritan, along with Our Lady of Peace in Conway, St. John the Baptist in Baden, and SS. John and Paul in Franklin Park work collectively as the "Great Grouping," a reorganization of parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh thats expected to be completed next year.

"Its not as arrogant as it sounds," said Cindy Deschaine of Economy, director of faith formation for the three valley churches of the self-named group. "Thats what we call ourselves. We dont have a name yet. We wont get that until next year. When the pastor went to every church, everybody would say to him, Oh, youre going to love it here. Were so great."

With the groupings various community outreach programs especially for the food insufficient the churches accomplish great things.

Good Samaritans Society of St. Vincent de Paul a lay organization that offers services to the communitys most vulnerable previously operated a food pantry, but assisted only about 20 to 30 families three times a year, Deschaine said usually at the holidays.

When the pandemic hit, the Great Grouping realized need would escalate and assumed, tweaked and expanded operations.

"We started with what they had on their shelves and put a plea out to our parishes," said Deschaine, and filmed a video posted on Facebook.

"Thats what started the donations rolling in," she said. Within three days, enough canned, boxed and other non-perishable items were received to enable volunteers to launch the new pantry.

"It was that quick of a turnaround," she said, complimenting parishioners for their generosity of not only food, but money.

"Over 200 volunteers signed up to get it off the ground. It was amazing amazing and beautiful," she said. "Now, we give out 170 to 200 boxes a week."

The pantry had buy-in from other churches and community, too.

New Hope Lutheran Church in Cranberry Township also provides food, and volunteers grocery shop for items to "fill in the gap."

"Every time we need something, it shows up," she said. "If I told you we needed jelly now, by the time I go to the pantry somebody would drive by with jelly to drop off. God truly does work in such wonderful ways for everything we do."

Each church in the grouping has a collection site and every day two volunteers from Saints John and Paul pick up whats donated and deliver to Good Samaritan where its sorted and readied for boxing.

Economy Ambulance Services hosted a food drive.

A Society of St. Vincent de Paul member delivers to elderly and shut-ins who cant come in person.

Deschaine said the grouping also works with the Center for Hope in Ambridge, which also operates a food bank.

The pantry at Good Samaritan operates from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day except Sunday, and from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, simultaneously with the hot meal distribution.

The pantry and hot meals are open to anyone no questions asked, Deschaine said.

"God teaches us to give without question You have to look at each person as God sent them to you because he wanted you to help them," she said. "When you run out, come back. We dont have any checks or balance. When you need it, you come."

And Deschaine does not think anyone abuses the system.

"In the Catholic faith, we lean a lot on saints to help us lead by example," she said. One is St. Teresa of Calcutta who served the sick and poor.

When COVID-19 hit, volunteers prayed to St. Teresa every morning, said Deschaine, "to help us remember that were not there to judge another person. Were there to be that face of God to them and after truly a week, maybe two, I dont feel weve been taken advantage of at all. Everyone is here because God wants us to help them."

Each box feeds a family of four for a week, she said. Boxes are filled with cereal, rice, pasta, pasta sauce, soups, canned meats, vegetables and fruits, ramen noodles, peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese. Many are brand-name products.

"Everybody gets a Little Debbie snack because we want everybody to have a smile," Deschaine said. "Thats the first thing they see when they open the box."

Plus, each box contains a trash bag and roll of toilet paper.

"Its all about preserving human dignity," she said.

As part of the federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, the USDAs Agricultural Marketing Service partnered with national, regional and local suppliers impacted by the closing of food-service businesses to buy and package family-sized boxes of produce, dairy and meat products for distribution to food banks, non-profits, and community and faith-based organizations serving those in need.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue expected that the first round of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program would deliver up to 40 million boxes throughout the country by June 30, according to the USDA.

Great Grouping is a recipient of the program, Deschaine said, through which it receives milk, eggs, butter, meat, bread, and fresh produce from local providers including Monteverdes Inc. in Pittsburgh; Schneiders Dairy Inc. in Whitehall; and Turner Dairy Farms in Penn Hills.

Grace Struss of New Brighton has visited once a week since June, this night picking up three dinners, a box of fresh produce, bread, and juice.

"Its very kind and giving of them," she said of Great Grouping volunteers. "We appreciate it. Theyre so helpful."

Her reaction is typical of most, Deschaine said.

Some, who never expected to find themselves in a food line, cry.

Others promise a monetary donation when unemployment checks arrive like the woman who gave Deschaine $20.

"Not that we want people to pay us back," she said. "Seeing the face of God in them is what we hope that were that face for them."

Deschaine said volunteers "definitely form relationships with the people that come through. We know who they are; what the kids names are. There have been some beautiful experiences."

One autistic boy who comes with his grandmother brings her flowers. Through their conversations, she knows his interests and favorite movie.

"We play out the lines from the movie when he comes through the line," she said.

"Its more than just giving food. Were giving fellowship to others in a very dark time in our worlds history, in our countrys history."

Good Samaritan hosted a fish fry on Friday nights until the pandemic reeled it in.

But the church still had food supplies and cooks offered to make meals and give them out, said Deschaine.

SS. John and Paul has a group called Meal Makers that prepares meals for those who are sick, facing unexpected or planned surgery, or other instances when meals are needed.

Members wanted to assist with the weekly take-out meals, too, offered Tuesdays to "anyone in need whether you are laid off, not working, or just need a little help."

Different groups in the Great Grouping Christian Mothers or choirs, for example volunteer to prepare the meal. This day Meal Makers signed up to cook, package and pass food to those who walk or drive up in the parking lot.

Nina Faber and her 14-year-old daughter, Evelyn, of Marshall Township were food runners Tuesday.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to people that are in need, particularly during this time of COVID. Were all struggling," Nina said. And its a chance for her daughter to "give back and experience what it feels like to help others."

This was the first time the pair volunteered, but theyve signed up for several more times throughout the summer. "Im kind of excited by it. They make it very easy," she said,.

"I think its an amazing way to give back," Evelyn said. "And its really good to help others during this time."

Eventually, when people can gather communally, meals will be served in Good Samaritans dining hall.

And Good Samaritan became a grab-and-go meal distribution site for children when schools were shut down during the pandemic. The church partnered with the YMCA of Beaver County. Lunch is available for pick up at schools; breakfast and dinner at the church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meals vary based on whats donated, Deschaine said. About 225 students are served.

Janet Roberto, director of outreach at Saints John and Paul, was among those loading food and produce boxes into trunks of cars and handing out hot meals Tuesday.

Why does she volunteer?

"Thats just who God made us to be. I dont know how not to," she said. "I dont mean that to sound arrogant at all. Its our responsibility just to love people where theyre at and help them. Thats just what were meant to do. Were all in this together. Theres no way around it."

To watch a video of the food pantry and hot meal distribution, visit http://www.timesonline.com.

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Great Grouping: Parishioners from four Catholic churches volunteer to feed the hungry - Ellwood City Ledger