SVDP in Louisville

Last October, when I was in California visiting Jim and Roberta McLaughlin, returned Maryknoll Lay Missioners who had worked with me in Cambodia, Jim introduced me to the workings of the St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry in their home parish of St. Columba. I learned a lot in my time at St. Columba.

Today I had the opportunity to visit a comparable SVDP operation in Louisville at the invitation of Ken and Diane Golliher who volunteer there. And again I learned a lot.

I was surprised to learn that while I was in Cambodia, the archdiocese had made a closed downtown parish campus available to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Open Hand Kitchen.
The Louisville SVDP food pantry distributes food on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Some of the food comes from businesses and food services in the area. Here a group of volunteers unloads a van of donated food.
The food is first placed on shelves or in a refrigerator or freezer until it is bagged for distribution.
Some food is donated by USDA (Department of Agriculture).
Recipients of the food distribution come on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and receive two bags, one of food from USDA and another from the private sources. In addition to the food, detergents, personal care items, and other necessities are available. Approximately 130 individuals and families are served each distribution day.

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