Who Is My Neighbor?
by Rhonda Morley
A reflection in a time of loss.
Since early last summer, I and fellow members of the St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes Social Justice Committee have undertaken a weekly food drive for Neighbor to Neighbor. As I continue to marvel at the outpouring of generosity each week, I reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ call for us to love our neighbor, and the response to His call in this ongoing endeavor.
My neighbor is:
People who suffer from hunger or food insecurity and are helped on a regular basis by Neighbor to Neighbor.
People who work tirelessly to adapt to changing circumstances and increased needs for food, and fearlessly work to provide for all the needs of Neighbor’s increasing client base.
People who volunteer their time to assemble bags of food each day at Neighbor, and volunteers who deliver each bag to a client’s door since it is no longer safe to invite clients to come to Neighbor to shop.
People who are not regular clients of Neighbor but come to the door with nowhere else to go and are given an emergency allotment of food.
People who volunteer their time each week for food drives around town.
People who arrive each week at our food drive, or only once, to donate food and essentials, and are so grateful for the opportunity to help their neighbor in this difficult time.
People who hear the call to provide hats as the weather gets cold, and take out their knitting needles and yarn to help others keep warm as winter in New England settles in.
The woman who arrives late to the weekly food drive with two bags filled with sixty beautiful hats she has knitted. She promises to keep knitting and shares her pattern for those of us who can join the effort.
People who sit on the board of Neighbor to Neighbor and are so generous with their time, talent, and financial resources. They are passionate about helping their neighbor and recognize that all are their neighbors.
The priests, staff and parishioners of the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes, who encourage and support the efforts of the Social Justice Committee to maintain this and other efforts in order to help our neighbors, wherever they may be.
It is a blessing to be a part of this community.
