Background
The Interfaith Food Pantry (IF) is a non-denominational, non-profit organization helping Morris County families make ends meet by supplementing their monthly groceries in times of need. In 2011, the IFP served more than 5,500 different households and distributed 325 tons of food. 

Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel Church was a founding member of the IFP, along with Assumption Church, St. Margaret’s Church and the First Baptist Church, all of Morristown. In 1994, Notre Dame parishioner Marilyn DiPrimo and group of volunteers combined the four church pantries into one centralized organization to assist the many local families, especially senior citizens, who needed assistance in securing food and for longer periods time than was currently available.

Our Outreach Support...
We are blessed to have the opportunity to continue offering our support to the IFP, as it is our mission to be the heart and hands of Christ to as many as we can in any way feasble. To that extend, through the IFP, our parish family faithfully supports those in need in our community, as follows:

• Monthy Food Collections: On the third weekend of each month, we hold a Food & Clothing Collection. The weekend prior to the collection (2nd weekend of the month), our ushers distribute bags to our parishioners, as they exit the worship space after Mass. Parishioners are asked to purchase groceries and bring the bags with their donations to our Gathering Space the following weekend, no later than Sunday by 12:15pm. At around 12:20pm of the collection Sunday, about 10-12 ministry volunteers arrive at our church, gather the bags with the purchased donations, load them onto their vehicles (3-5 vehicles) and transport them to the IFP. (Note: The clothing donations are picked up by Catholic Charities who ensures they reach those in need as well).

• Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive: Two weekends prior to Thanksgiving, we hold our Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, when we ask our parishioners to bring their frozen turkeys to our parking lot, before any of the weekend Masses. Two to three ministry volunteers collect the frozen turkeys and bring them to the pantry on the Sunday of the collection, around 12:30pm.

• Annual Easter Ham Drive: In a similar fashion as with the turky drive, two weekends prior to Easter, we hold our Easter Ham Drive. Parishioners bring hams to the parking lot which are collected and delivered to the pantry by two to three loving ministry members.

• ​Direct Support by our parish families: Many of our parish families support the IFP directly by giving monetary donations, offering their time sorting food or helping with general pantry operations, or participating in their home delivery program (volunteer shops at the pantry on behalf of an assigned homebound client and delivers the groceries to that client).

Want to help?

• Grab that food collection bag from the ushers and bring it back with your food donations! Give whatever you can... even a can of soup goes a long way when feeding a child! Also, please take notice of the bulletin blurbs we publish every so often, regarding urgent needs at the pantry; if you can keep those needs in mind as you do your shopping for the montly food collections, it would be an added blessing.

• Participate in the collection and delivery of food donations once per month. On the third weekend of each month, you would be helping collect the donations and deliver them to the pantry. It requires about 1 hour to 1.5 hours per month. Please contact Bob Steiger at 973-539-4359, or Ed & Patty McGlynn at 973-723-9071, ori via email at edandpatty@optonline.net.

• Participate in the collection & delivery of turkeys and/or hams. Once per year, on the weekend of the drive, you would make yourself available to help collect the donations in our back parking lot before each of the Masses. Then on that Sunday of the drive, around 12:15pm, you would help deliver the donations to the pantry. Please contact Vito Crecca 973-895-7326, or via email at njvito@yahoo.com.

• For ways to support the pantry directly, please visit their website at www.mcifp.org.