BOONE — Recent increases in gas, food, and rent costs, along with wages not keeping up with the increased cost of living, have many people wondering how they will feed themselves and their families.

Across the Diocese of Charlotte, pantry shelves are emptying as fast as they are stocked, and donations are urgently needed to keep up with the increase in families’ needs. Thankfully, our diocese has dedicated parishes like St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, whose members are stepping up and helping keep their neighbors fed.

Between May 15 and June 5, St. Elizabeth parishioners organized a food drive to benefit the Hunger and Health Coalition, a local non-profit providing healthy prepared meals and groceries to those facing hunger in Watauga County.

In honor of the “50 Acts of Charity,” a diocesan-wide initiative to encourage charitable acts in celebration of the diocese’s 50th anniversary, St. Elizabeth Parish set a goal for 50 families from the parish to donate 5 pounds of food each.

By the end of the food drive on June 5, 340 pounds of food had been donated – well exceeding the parish’s goal. According to The Feeding America Network, a standard meal equals 1.2 pounds of food, so St. Elizabeth’s successful food drive will provide 283 people with a healthy meal they might not otherwise have had. Thanks to St. Elizabeth and its motivated parishioners – your Act of Charity is making a true impact!

— Virginia Garramone. Photo provided by Jenn Bass, Director of Communications at Hunger and Health Coalition