Saugus Clergy Association
Rev. Dr. Leroe (781) 233 - 2663
The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry
is a faith-based ministry of the churches of Saugus,
and supplied by generous contributions
from people and organizations within our community.
We are located at the Cliftondale Congregational Church,
50 Essex Street, Saugus, MA phone 781-233-2663
The Food Pantry is open to all Saugus residents who are in need,
every Friday from 9:30 am to 11:00 am. Residents may receive food
twice a month. We recommend that you park in the Marleah Graves
School parking lot next door to the church.
People who wish to register with the Pantry in order to receive food
must bring with them the following:
- A photo ID
- A utility bill dated within the past month, with your name & address on it
- Documents showing the State or Federal aid/assistance you are receiving.
For example:
Fuel Assistance voucher
Mass Health or free care ID card
Head Start for
Subsidized housing certificate
Food Stamp Identification
WIC program card or voucher
VA Benefits paperwork
Social Security Disability benefits
Low Income employment letter
If employed, a current pay stub
If you are receiving food for children under the age of 18, you will need to
bring in a copy of their birth certificate or passport, and proof of legal
residence.
If you have any questions, please call the pantry at 781-233-2663
and ask to speak with Carol.
For donations, the following are standard food items needed
(food must be before the expiration date)…
Cereal Pasta
Rice Tuna
Dry Milk Pancake Mix
Baked Beans Baking Mix
Peanut Butter & Jelly Canned Fruit or Juice
Canned Vegetables Canned or Dry Soups
Macaroni & Cheese Dinners Instant Potatoes
Canned Tomatoes or Sauce Canned Meat
The volunteers for the pantry come from the churches in town.
Any who wish to participate should first speak to their minister,
then arrange to visit the pantry in operation.
Rev. Dr. Robert G. Leroe, Saugus Clergy Association
From the Pastor's Corner
with blessings from the Rev. Dr. Bob Leroe
I have it pretty easy as the host Pastor of the Saugus Food Pantry.
On Friday mornings I come downstairs, speak with Carol Cashman,
our director, chat with the volunteers, get some coffee, and then
gather the group together for prayer before our clients come in.
On bad weather days the clients are already downstairs, seated and
waiting for the process to begin. We share some prayer requests,
and then hold hands in a big circle in the church gym while I lead in
prayer. When I'm away, someone in the group volunteers to lead
the prayer.
We always pray for those who are utilizing the pantry. Some have
long-term financial struggles. Most of us have at times been short
on money, so we're fellow strugglers. No one who comes in is made
to feel lesser because of their need. In fact, there's a lot of friendly
chatter going on between volunteers and clients.
A strong camaraderie has grown among the volunteer staff, many of
whom say they live for Fridays when they can come and help out.
Some are busy cutting boxes: others are working in the stock room,
or setting up items on the long tables. Some do administrative work,
and others help carry bags to waiting cars. The age-range is wide,
from teens to seniors. Some volunteers work during the week, picking
up bread from Panera or going into Boston to pick up food at the
Greater Boston Food Bank.
RESCO gave the pantry volunteers special red T-shirts, and most
often the volunteers wear them on Fridays. We don't do enough for
our volunteers, so it's a nice gesture to give them a small token of
appreciation.
Everyone who volunteers is from one of the many churches in town.
It may be housed at Cliftondale Congregational Church, but it's the
"United" pantry, a ministry of the Saugus Clergy Association.
In Saugus it's not hard to be ecumenical since we like one another so
much. It's not simply cooperation, but close friendship and appreciation
of one another, in spite of a few theological differences. What unites
us is greater than what divides us.
St. Francis said, "Proclaim the Gospel, and if necessary, use words."
We don't force feed religion on anyone who comes for food, but I think
everyone knows that the reason we're doing this work is because we
love the Lord. It is a ministry.
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