By Christine Galeone, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Recently, an elderly gentleman visited St. Anne’s busy food pantry. Carrying a box, he asked the director, Elaine LeBlanc, if she would like to see what was inside. When she said she would, he opened it and showed her photos from his days in the military and ones of his parents and grandparents.
“They’re like family,” she said of the people who come to the pantry. “They come in all the time. They’re not just a number. You cannot solve all their problems, but you can listen.”
For several years, the compassionate dynamo, who helped establish the human services ministry, has been bringing help and hope to Shrewsbury residents in need.
The ministry, which includes the food pantry, a thrift store and an annual giving tree project, is located at St. Anne’s Parish at 130 Boston Turnpike Road. Although it’s currently in need of children’s clothes, it provides food, clothing, furniture, toys and other items to the 400 families it serves. LeBlanc and her 125-150 volunteers also help clients find resources to help them get back on their feet. The ministry director said it started one Christmas when she and a small group of parishioners began delivering baskets to people who were going through a rough time. From that simple act of kindness, the ministry has grown exponentially. LeBlanc is in awe of what she helped create.
“It’s amazing!” she said. “You have to see it to believe it!”
That growth is evident in all areas of the ministry that LeBlanc shepherds. While Shrewsbury businesses donate a lot of food and supplies, LeBlanc said that local nonprofits and organizations have also helped the ministry thrive. She said she’s also blessed with great volunteers (including former clients) of almost all ages and diverse backgrounds. To sustain the ministry, LeBlanc explained that she delegates responsibilities to crews she created – the trucking crew, the food crew, the cashier teams, etc.
“I love them all,” said the former Spirit of Shrewsbury grand marshal – speaking about both the volunteers and clients. “This town pulls together and takes care of its own.”
LeBlanc, who relies on “trust and faith,” said she’s also inspired by a family with two children who had lived in a motel for five years. The dad didn’t have a car or much education. Besides giving them food and clothing and putting them on the housing list, the ministry helped the dad acquire skills to get a job at a store, to which the young man walked every night. LeBlanc and other volunteers were so impressed they bought him a used car and found a mechanic to fix it. The family then got an apartment and moved in with furniture provided by the ministry that he still serves as a volunteer.
“He’s our poster child. It was an amazing road we traveled with him, but he cooperated all along the way,” said LeBlanc, adding: “Everyone has a story. Everyone is special.”
LeBlanc hopes that as long as there’s a need, the younger generation will keep the ministry going for future clients – whether they need food, clothing?or someone with whom to share their boxes of memories.
“It may give them a better life,” she noted. “And it gives them hope for a better future.”
For more information about the ministry, visit www.stannesparish.org and click the link “Human Services.”