St. Vincent de Paul awarded $11,000 grant

Quality Health Foundation has awarded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Sts. Peter

and Paul Conference an $11,000 grant to buy a walk-in refrigerator for its food pantry.

“We are so grateful for this award from Quality Health Foundation,” said Alex Handy,

president of SVdP’s local conference. “The new refrigerator will mean we can store more

perishable food items,” he said.

The grant award coincides with the expansion of the SVdP Center at 29533

Canvasback Drive in Easton. The building will grow by 2,000 square feet, Handy said,

and will have a more efficient floor plan to better serve the people of Talbot County.

Working with the Maryland Food Bank, SVdP acts as a food hub, providing groceries

to 30 other churches and organizations who are distributing food to people in need

throughout Talbot County.

“We share resources to help others,” said Kathy Weaver, food pantry manager.

“We use our SVdP truck to pick up meats and vegetables from area stores, so our local

community groups don’t have to travel all over or pay for distribution of food. They

come to us and we share with them,” Weaver said.

In addition to its food pantry, the SVdP Center includes a thrift store, furniture and

boutique. It is open Tuesday afternoons from 1-4 and Saturday mornings from 9 to 12.

All proceeds from thrift center sales go to supply the food pantry. SVdP also helps clients

pay utility bills, rent, medical and other expenses.

Pictured from left to right: Alex Handy and Gloria Freihage, St. Vincent de Paul; Jane Kasper and Brenda Crabbs, Quality Health Foundation; and Kathy Weaver, St. Vincent de Paul food pantry manager.