For many years, St Patrick Catholic Church in Newcastle (part of the All Saints Parish that encompasses the mid-Coast region of Maine) has been active on the ecumenical team of local churches that support the Ecumenical Food Pantry in Newcastle with donations of food, fundraising, volunteers, and leadership resources.

At a July 26 ceremony during Sunday Mass at St. Patrick Church, Catholic Charities of Maine (CCM) announced that All Saints Parish has been selected as one of the six Catholic parishes from around the state to receive the 2015 Matthew 25 Award. The Matthew 25 Award is an annual grant given to parishes directly serving vulnerable people in need, regardless of their faith affiliation. CCM focuses Matthew 25 Award grants on projects that will assist in expanding the capacity for a ministry to serve its mission.

After CCM staff and board members reviewed numerous applications, All Saints Parish was selected for its work with the Ecumenical Food Pantry due to the large number of people who benefit by being served, committed volunteer hours to the project, and the fact that this investment will build capacity for the ministry in the future.

“Their application really stood out by demonstrating that the dollars spent now would have positive repercussions in the community for years to come,” says Michael Smith, Program Manager for Catholic Charities’ Parish Social Ministry. The custom-crafted stained glass award and check for $2,500 were presented at St. Patrick Church by Catholic Charities’ Michael Smith.

The funds from the Matthew 25 grant will be given to the Ecumenical Food Pantry to purchase refrigeration equipment. “This is truly a blessing,” said parish representative Bob Conger. “This grant recognizes, and enhances, the wonderful and caring work that the Ecumenical Food Pantry is doing for members of our community.”

MaryAnn Look, co-chair of the Ecumenical Food Pantry, elaborated that, “With refrigeration equipment, we will be able to expand the fresh food that we offer, and we will be able to acquire frozen food items on a more economical and efficient basis – all of which will benefit our hungry neighbors.”

In 2014, the Ecumenical Food Pantry provided food to more than 430 families (1200 individuals) from Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro and neighboring communities.

The Matthew 25 award is presented annually by Catholic Charities to parishes in Maine that closely adhere to the principles of the Bible verse Matthew: 25, "I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink ... in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me."

This is the fifth year the award has been given, and All Saints Parish is the 10th recipient parish.