Province of St. Bonaventure Highlights Hard-Working Food Pantry Staff, Volunteers with Video Series

The Food Pantry at St. Thomas of Canterbury continues seeing strong demand following our record-setting 2025. Through the first six months of the year, the pantry served 4,049 households and 6,959 individuals. Both totals are down slightly from last year's record-setting first half (​4,375 

households and 7,499 individuals); however, they appear to represent a "new normal" of need in the community. A video series from the Conventual Franciscans of the Province of St. Bonaventure highlights some of the committed team members who are meeting this demand:​

Friar Ayub Mwenda, OFM Conv.

This is the second time Friar Ayub Mwenda, OFM Conv. has served as director of the Food Pantry. He first led the operation from 2019 to 2020, before returning to Mary, Mother of God Parish in 2024. Friar Ayub ensures the pantry remains well-stocked with a variety of nutritious food options, recently coordinating a new partnership with Costco Wholesale. His work at the Pantry was recently acknowledged with the Friend of Polonia Award, presented by the Consulate General of Poland in Chicago.

Friar James Carlo Muzzey, OFM Conv.

Friar James Carlo Muzzey, OFM Conv. has been a new face at the Food Pantry this summer. Friar James Carlo is on break from his studies with the Conventuals. He is using the time to get a feel for parish life, with the main goal of serving a parish as a priest. He says his personal experience with food pantries makes the opportunity to serve even more meaningful.

​Kara Chmielewski

Kara Chmielewski is one of our dedicated Food Pantry volunteers. Whether it's working the produce section or building shelves with her bare hands, Kara has gone above and beyond serving our neighbors. She explains what motivates her to serve others.

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The Food Pantry at St. Thomas of Canterbury serves about 1,500 people each month. Given last year’s record pace, continued support remains vital. 

The Mary, Mother of God Parish Human Concerns Committee is inviting parishioners to prayerfully consider becoming part of a regular and dependable volunteer effort supporting these ministries throughout the year. 

During the summer months — and especially throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons — we experience significant volunteer shortages as many students and regular groups become unavailable. 

Please consider volunteering your time or making a donation to help sustain these essential services. 
 
As a Franciscan parish community, we are called not only to give financially, but also to become the hands and feet of Christ through personal service. 

Interested in becoming a Conventual Franciscan? Click here.