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Inside the Tasker Street Baptist Church last Thursday busy workers placed a bounty of goods into baskets. Their efforts provided residents like Ethel Churn with a warm meal and even warmer sentiments this Thanksgiving.
"The budget is always so tight, so anything that would help is a blessing," said the senior, whose meal will include a turkey, stuffing and fresh fruit. "I belong to a church that cares for the people in the community and its own members as well."
A member of the church’s missionary ministry, Wilma Conway and others prepared some 50 baskets thanks to food and monetary donations from the church’s members. Using specialized collection envelopes, the church raised $1,000 – an amount that relatively matched last year’s figure.
Its members, many originally from the Gulf States affected by this year’s hurricanes, do not seem to shy away from contributing locally despite also giving to the year’s various relief efforts, said Conway, financial secretary for the church’s missionary ministry.
"There’s just so many needs in your own neighborhood and you look out for people in [your] own community," she said.
Mother Nature wreaked havoc on planet Earth this year with record force: An earthquake late last December produced a tsunami devastating 11 countries and killing more than 200,000 people, according to the United Nations; Hurricane Katrina and numerous other storms shocked the South and its residents this summer; and an earthquake Oct. 8 rocked Pakistan, killing more than 70,000.
Americans have responded to the tragedies with an outpouring of support. But, with the onset of the holiday season, are local residents feeling tapped out and foregoing their contributions to causes closer to home?
Not the case, said the Rev. Nick Martorano, pastor at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, Ninth and Watkins streets. His church distributed 35 food baskets to needy parishioners this month, which is comparable to last year’s number. Next month, he will ask the community for holiday gifts and he knows they will generously respond.
"When you’re making collections in church for financial support for relief efforts, most people don’t give large sums," he said. "They’re helping, but not so where it’s going to affect donating to other charities or other needs. People arise to the cause."
ONE GROUP THAT has seen a dip in donations is South Philly-based Philabundance, which receives food from more than 1,000 businesses and organizations and dispenses the goods to member agencies throughout the Delaware Valley. Donations from the public also are vital to their operations.
"We distributed approximately 26 million pounds of food last year due to the fact that the number of people who live at or near the poverty level is growing," said Martha M. Buccino, Philabundance’s vice president of strategic development.
While looking to receive 2,000 turkeys for the holiday, the organization acquired only 1,100 by late last week, Buccino said. Even monetary contributions are on the decline.
"The volume is not as much," she said. "We’re starting to see a dip now, but happily we have loyal donors and we’re seeing some of them make donations."
Regular donors wishing to contribute larger sums of money said they have been stymied by disaster relief donations, said Buccino, who also attributed this year’s high cost of fuel as a factor for dwindling contributions.
Philabundance, whose office is at 3626 Galloway St., will continue organizing food drives throughout the holiday season, relying on the good graces of residents.
"They also could make a monetary donation, which goes a long way because we buy things wholesale and can stretch their dollars," Buccino said.
For additional support, Philabundance combined its services with the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank, aiming to finally put the kibosh on local hunger.
Roger Bruno, a member of the Sons of Italy and president of the Frank Rizzo Lodge at 1526 Wolf St., used member-donated foods and money to create three Thanksgiving baskets that were distributed to local churches.
As tragic as the worldwide disasters were this year, residents simply cannot forget those suffering right in their own backyards, Bruno said.
"We like to help our own community first, especially in South Philly," he said. "There’s enough need around here in front of us."
With 50 families enjoying turkey dinners this week, Conway, of the Tasker Street Baptist Church, understands even a pinch of generosity goes a long way.
"We’re a missionary church," she said. "This is our belief that we are commissioned and we have to do right by people in our community. We just can’t walk by people knowing that they need a meal."
If your organization is collecting donations for the holiday season, send an e-mail with the details to editor@southphillyreview.com.
