These numbers are not just statistics; they are stories of survival. A personal story shared by Helen Booth, St. Mark's (London) warden and a Food Pantry ministry member, accompanies reports and numbers for St. Mark's outreach efforts.
By Helen Booth
I PORE OVER the reports, the stats, the financial statements that are so vital for the St. Mark's food pantry. I understand the need for these figures, the vital role they play in securing funding and grants. But behind every number, every neatly organized column, lies a human story. A story, in fact, that is deeply personal to me and fuels my profound passion for the work we do. It’s a story that begs the question: Where would my family be today?
Imagine, if you will, 1965. My mother suddenly becomes a widow, left with the crushing weight of 12 children to care for. The youngest, a mere nine months old, the eldest just 15. No income. No social safety net. No savings, no insurance, nothing. Just a family teetering on the precipice of utter despair.
The reality was stark. Rent was impossible, meals were meager, and any concept of "extras" vanished. We found refuge in a vacant farm building, a humble roof over our heads that a friend offered to us. The family was together, that’s all that mattered. My mother foraged for wild berries, relying on the kindness of neighbours for the odd vegetables. A local grocer, with simple human grace, gave us day-old bread and deli scraps. My mother, already exhausted from loss and worry, started skipping meals so her kids would have more.
And then winter. The biting, ruthless cold of Northern Ontario descended upon us. An old, drafty farm building is no match for temperatures that can easily plunge to -30 degrees Celsius. Hope, already fragile, was starting to fade.
But in that darkness, a glimmer of light appeared. The priest from Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Monteith offered us sanctuary in the church building for the winter. Pews became beds, the wood stove a cooking place. A sacred space became our home, our lifeline.
My most vivid childhood memory? One Christmas Eve. All 12 of us huddled on the steps leading upstairs in our house, waiting for the knock at the door. And then it came, and there he stood, a man dressed in black except for a single red ribbon on his hat. This was our "Santa." This was the Salvation Army, a symbol of the charity that lifted us from despair.
Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Monteith:
"Pews became beds, the wood stove a cooking place. A sacred space became our home, our lifeline."
Growing up, I honestly don’t recall the struggles as much as the love. The sense of unity, the feeling of belonging. My mother, through it all, made us feel cherished and safe.
But that's the thing about a child's perspective; it doesn't always grasp the gravity of the situation. As an adult, I often ponder: Where would we be today? Would people still open their homes? Would a priest still offer a church sanctuary? Would strangers still offer food, not as a government program, but as human beings offering help?
I know, sadly, the answer. We would likely be homeless, and my mother would have been unable to keep her family together. In today's fragmented world, there would be no shared community and compassion. The consequences would be devastating.
My mother was my beacon of hope, a light that guided me through the darkest of times. It's that same spirit of hope that fuels my work at St. Mark’s. I pray that every guest who comes through our doors feels the same, that they leave with a sense of belonging, friendship, and hope for a better tomorrow.
Here are the figures for 2024. Numbers are important; they tell our story of impact. Through our network and shared resources, we touched over 86,000 lives. With the incredible help of Just a Bunch of Friends and COBs Bread, we delivered 600-700 sandwiches directly to those living on the street every week.
Three hundred and sixty clients visited us on our pantry days, offering crucial support to 1906 individuals. Out of our clients, 81 were new first-time guests and 279 were returning.
Our Food Education program delivered 24 sessions, supporting 720 individuals. And with the generosity of our supporters, we provided food for three community meals and Christmas dinner for 45 families.
These numbers are not just statistics; they are stories of survival, of people who need a helping hand. They are stories of hope, of compassion in action. And they fuel our passion to continue, to expand, and to ensure that no one will be left wondering; where would my family be today, in a world so driven by figures, that they lose sight of human need. Join us in making a difference, in building a community where everyone is valued and has hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Helen Booth is a warden at St. Mark's London and a member of the Food Pantry Ministry.