With wipers flashing rapidly across her windshield as the skies pummeled down rain, Stephanie Campbell drove into the parking lot of the food pantry at Christ Church, Brentwood after a day of mulching and harvesting vegetables at the garden at St. Peter’s in Bay Shore. While unloading the car in the pouring rain, Stephanie noticed people walking across the lot—soaked, with empty grocery bags. It was a moment that changed her. “They must really need this food,” she thought. Then, another realization struck:
Join us for a Celebration of Ministry Honoring the Garden & Pantry at St. Peter's
For Susanne Smith, the call to action came from her own experiences growing up with limited resources. She knows firsthand the experience of not having the agency that comes with choice. As a long-time parishioner, she knew that St. Peter’s used to cook meals for the parish community in their full kitchen, but that the space wasn’t being used anymore to its fullest capacity. She knew this extra space could be the heart of a new ministry to fight food insecurity in Bay Shore. Looking carefully at the resources available to her – the kitchen space, parish volunteers, and her own organizational and strategic thinking – she thought: “Who better than me to start this ministry?”
With strategic support from EMLI, the Garden and Pantry at St. Peter’s have become a lifeline in Bay Shore. The pantry is not just about food; it’s about dignity and choice, offering fresh organic produce and pantry staples in a welcoming atmosphere. The garden provides more than sustenance—it’s a place of learning, where students, including those with special needs, contribute to its success.
Get your tickets to Celebrate Ministry on Oct. 16th!
These ministries together are a powerful demonstration of what is possible when we have the courage to say “yes” to what God is calling us to do.
Stephanie, Susanne, and the dozens of volunteers that help these ministries flourish had the courage to hear the cry of the poor and not wait for someone else to do something about it. The courage to trust that everything they needed to make an impact is already within their community. The courage to see the face of Christ in their neighbors. The courage to transform their hands and feet and hearts into ones that serve Christ in each person.