‘A blessing that walked through my door:’ Lynn Food Pantry Client Finds Hope for the Holiday Season

“When you don’t have family around, you can only make it so far on your own,” said Mary, a longtime Lynn resident who has visited the Lynn Food Pantry weekly over the past year. “Catholic Charities is a blessing that walked through my door.”

When Mary’s son who had been helping to support her passed away a few years ago, she was not only consumed with grief but also faced with the stark new reality of getting food on the table and keeping up with mounting bills on her own. As a senior citizen, living alone, Mary said she began to experience food insecurity in a way she never had before.

Through a friend at church, Mary learned of Catholic Charities Lynn Food Pantry. Because Mary owns her own home, and therefore does not qualify for SNAP benefits, she said the pantry has been instrumental in helping her to get weekly meals on the table.

“I thank God for what they are doing to help people like me struggling,” she said. “They are cutting down on the need significantly.”

From fresh fruits and produce to chicken thighs and beef stew, Mary said she now visits the pantry every Thursday morning – when it is open exclusively to senior citizens – and is able to stock up on nutrient-dense staples that last her most of the week.

Still, Mary said the high cost of living is a burden she feels every day.

“Things are more than hard,” she said. “The heating bill and the water bill and the mortgage need to be paid. But the groceries from the Lynn Pantry have helped a huge deal.”

Over the past few years, Mary said the holidays have been particularly hard, with her only remaining family member living states away. Usually, she spends Thanksgiving alone.

This year, though, she looks forward to registering for Catholic Charities annual Thanksgiving distribution and bringing home a warm meal to potentially share with neighbors or sisters from her church.

“I may not have everything I need,” she said. “But Catholic Charities has given me enough to sustain me and keep me well. I am really grateful.”

To learn more about how you can support Catholic Charities Boston’s clients in need, visit our Ways to Give page.