Church collects food for Open Pantry

EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - Parishioners at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in East Longmeadow have answered a critical call for help.

Their priest, Father James Scahill saw the story 22News did on the empty shelves at Springfield's Emergency Open Pantry recently.

On Sunday parishioners filled the Open Pantry truck with what we're told, is enough food to help hundreds of families for at least one week.

“Father put out a plea last Sunday for all our parishioners to bring food and fill the truck today, so those shelves will be,” said Sister Betty Broughan.

“Father Scahill, all he did was say ten words at the altar last Sunday, and it's created all of this, this is such a giving parish, they give for everything,” said Anne Barrett who has been a St. Michael's parishioner for 61 years.

Parishioners told 22News, it wasn't just a few of them but everyone in the parish pitched in, bringing in bags of food.

When the Open Pantry opens its doors Monday the food will be distributed to the many needy families that depend on the Open Pantry.