PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
Amanda Tran and Andrew Medrano, volunteers from Lynn Classical, carry old chairs from the second floor of the former nunnery at Sacred Heart Church on Boston Street.
By ADAM SWIFT
LYNN — From local students to the Rotary Club to scores of community volunteers, there has been an outpouring of help and support to bring a new food pantry to the former nunnery at Sacred Heart Church on Boston Street.
The food pantry, which is expected to open in March under the direction of Catholic Charities North, will serve the communities currently served by Sacred Heart, St. Mary’s Church, and the Lynn Family Mission. Since the closing of the St. Mary’s food pantry 1½ years ago, the three groups have worked with the Greater Boston Food Bank to provide to those in need one Saturday per month in the St. Mary’s parking lot.
“The whole idea is that there is a great need in the city of Lynn,” said Bob Fioccoprile, the project manager for the Sacred Heart site. “The Greater Boston Food Bank has been a great help bringing in food and people to help direct the site (in St. Mary’s parking lot).”
Food and essential supplies have been provided to about 18,000 people since the organizations have been operating out of the St. Mary’s parking lot, Fioccoprile said.
Once renovations are complete, the food pantry will be open one or two Saturdays per month, and possibly a few nights per month. It will be run by Catholic Charities North Executive Fran Troutman, who also oversees about a half-dozen other food pantries across the North Shore.
But it is taking a lot of work to get the Sacred Heart location ready to open in March. Luckily, dozens of local organizations and volunteer groups have been lending a hand.
On Saturday morning, students from Lynn Classical’s Interact Club showed up to help clean out the building, sand, and paint. The Interact Club is a community service organization for students aligned with the Rotary Club.
Dina Capano, a Classical history teacher who oversees the Interact Club, said the project at Sacred Heart is a way for the students to see an ongoing community service project from beginning to end.
Classical senior Suzanne Musema said she first got involved in community service projects through Girls, Inc.
Many of the students said it was worth getting up early on a Saturday morning to help out a worthy cause.
“Working and being part of the community has been instilled in me,” she said. “I cherish being able to make a difference.”
Senior Glendy Alvarez said she also likes to be involved in the community and helping make people happy through her efforts.
“I love helping the community,” said senior Elizabeth Tobon. “I live five minutes away, and it feels great to do something great for a great cause and give a hand to the community.”
Fioccoprile said he was thankful for all the groups that have lent a hand to make the food pantry a reality.
Ray Bastarache, president of the Rotary Club of Lynn, busy scraping paint off the ceiling on Saturday morning, said he and the other Rotary members were happy to help.
“I’ve been in the loop for the search for a permanent site,” said Bastarache. “They can’t continue to operate outside, and we knew this would be an appropriate site.”
