- Last Updated on Monday, 24 January 2022 22:37
By Matthew Peaslee
St. Andrew The Apostle Parish has put out a call to the community. The parish, which includes the churches of St. Damien of Molokai in Monongahela; Mary, Mother of the Church in Charleroi and Our Lady of the Valley in Donora, has provided a food bank service to the greater community for several years. As the churches officially merged together in January 2020, the food bank project has grown into a true mission for the parishioners.
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Deacon Al Poroda and the food bank committee have a special request to help out, especially during these cold winter months.
“Recently, when placing our food bank order, we were made aware of the shortages the grocery stories are now facing. Supplies of canned goods, pasta and toiletries are in low supply but the need in the Mid Mon Valley continues to grow,” Poroda said.
Typically, the food bank orders those supplies in bulk. However, due to supply chain issues, that can’t happen in these early months of 2022. Poroda said the church family, and the entire community, could focus on donating canned vegetables, spaghetti and other types of pasta, paper towels, toilet paper, tissues and bars of soap.
“We can make things happen,” Poroda said. “As we’ve proven before, non of us are as strong as all of us.”
The administrative center for St. Andrew The Apostle Parish is located at 1 Park Manor Dr. in Donora.
A special fundraiser is being held in February, put on by the Donora Knights of Columbus Council #1941. The Knights are hosting a Galiffa’s hoagie, pizza and flatbread sale. Order forms can be located at all three churches and food pick up will be held on Feb. 10 at the Our Lady of the Valley social hall in Donora.
