Pam Pusty and Deacon Andy Heinsohn were half kidding and half serious when they told volunteers at the Father Jack Jones Food Pantry to pray for a truck.

The food pantry, on the Catholic Charities campus in the Holy Name rectory basement, has become so popular with neighbors since opening in May that it already has expanded from one day of operations to two, now serving on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Recently, Pam and Andy have wondered where they would find enough food to give out the next time the pantry opens. “I would turn off the lights at the end of the day and say a prayer,” Pam says.

Dare to Care primarily supplies the food pantry, but even Dare to Care has its limits. Last week, though, Pam, who places our orders with Dare to Care, got a call from them. Our pantry is doing so well they decided to place us in a different category of receiving supplies, meaning we will now receive a large, extra shipment from them once a month.

Prayers answered!

That same day, though, Pam also received a call telling her that the truck we share with other programs had limited availability to transport food from Dare to Care because of the uptick in donations to MRS for evacuees from Afghanistan.

Prayers needed.

“We have the food, but we need a truck for the extra monthly delivery,” Pam and Andy told volunteers at the pantry. “Pray for a truck!”

Enter the volunteers, who immediately were abuzz suggesting we contact Sternberg Automotive Group, whose owner is active in the Catholic community. Volunteer Miriam Gravatte made the call and arranged for Sternberg to donate a truck and a driver for the monthly pick up and delivery.

Prayers answered …. Even when offered up half kidding and half serious.

Our thanks to our faithful volunteers, Miriam Gravatte, and the Sternberg Automotive Group. And, of course, Pam and Deacon Andy for all those prayers.