12/12/2013 HUMAN SERVICES Minutes

Home Browse Search

s .V W . + Mashpee 1• # y �• 16 Great-Neck Road North 13101: Mash e , Massachusetts 02649 HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE — PUBLIC SESSION Human services office — 2:00 PIM Thursday, December 12, 2013 Minutes of the Meeting f 12/1211 Members Present: Members Absent: Also Present: Ruth Elias, Chairman John Cahalane Gail Wilson, Human Services Director Janice Walf rd, Vice Chairman Gus Frederick Don Chabot, St. Vincent de Paul Elinor Glener, Clerk Veronica Warden Lynne Waterman Marry Scanlan Kathy I lohler-F ria CALL To ORDER Chairman Fruth Elias called the meeting to order at 2:05 PM. F EVIE 11 of MINUTES — 11/12/2013 Revisions were rade to the 11/12/2013 minutes. Finan approval of the minutes was continued to the net meeting on January 16, 2014. NEIN BUSINESS • Dort Chabot, St. Vincent de Paul — Guest Speaker Chairman Putti Elias welcomed Don Chabot to the meeting and thanked him for corning. Committee members introduced themselves to Mr. Chabot. Mr. Chabot began by stating that he is one of 300 volunteer members of St. Vincent de Paul. Their operations are based out of Christ the King Church in Mashpee, but Mr. Chabot emphasized that St. Vincent de Paul is not affiliated with the Church — it is a separate non-profit organization. 1r. Chabot stated that he works with needy parses, those who have need of funds to pay rent: mortgages, or other bills. There are many ministries there, and Don Chabot works with probably the best known one, the Food Pantry. The Food Pantry is open every Wednesday, and unripe a ,month on Wednesday nights as well. Mr. Chabot stated that he started with the Food Pantry 14 years ago, and since its inception, the need has grown from a few clients a week to 80 families on average every Wednesday. Menus are prepared, families select what they need, the menu requests are taken to the packing room. Packages are delivered to the families within two ,minutes— it is a very efficient operation. Donuts and coffee are provided to the families while they wait for their packages. Mr. Chabot stressed that the families are treated with dignity and respect, as many of those coming are embarrassed at their need to ask for assistance, never having been In this situation before. Mr. Chabot stated that the cost of the food distributed per year is $50,000. Food is provided by the Greater Boston Food Bank with donations also from Roche Brothers, Panera Bread, Stop & Shop, and BJ's, to name a few. Fire hundred pounds of food come from the Greater Boston Food Bank. 1