As we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend with our family and friends, I want to call your attention to the Finleyville Food Pantry which is currently serving 321 families in the Finleyville Area and upper Mon Valley.  As a parish we have pulled together to help them with various needs.  They are a recipient, for example, of our recent Scouting for Food Collection.  The produce from the Community Garden at St. Francis goes there.  Whenever there has been a specific need at the Food Pantry, we have always tried to meet it.  You have always been generous.
 
The latest need is for rent assistance, which is increasing in January to $1,200 a month.  The reason is that the neighboring church, which houses them and whose congregation is very small, is asking them to shoulder more of the utility burden.  The Food Pantry’s freezers use a lot of electricity each month.  Unfortunately, without financial help the Finleyville Food Pantry will have to close.  So, I am putting the plea out to you.  The proceeds from the Turkey Bingo at St. Francis two weeks ago is also going toward their rent, and we are also making an additional donation from the parish.  If you own a business and would like to donate on behalf of your business or if you individually would like to pay either a full or partial month’s rent, please call Pat Trumpie, the head of the Finleyville Food Pantry at 412-660-3166.  It’s our chance to provide direct assistance to serve those in need in our local community