As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And Jesus directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:15-21.
The Members and volunteers of St. Ann Conference are disciples of Jesus who collect and distribute the food, fund, and resources that God supplies and blesses. We do this through the St. Ann Food Pantry and the financial assistance programs.
Food Pantry
The St. Ann Food Pantry has operated continuously since 2002. The pantry was started as more migrants and local residents began knocking on the pastor’s door for food.
Since opening, the number of people in need has continued to grow. We currently average 967 people from approximately 223 families per week.
Fiscal Year | Families | Big Families | People | Value of Aid |
2020-2021 | 6,222 | 1,831 | 27,720 | $755,215 |
2021-2022 | 9,135 | 2,559 | 38,735 | $978,149 |
2022-2023 | 11,708 | 1,868 | 50,363 | $1,138,506 |
2023-2024 | 10,666 | 1,770 | 46,032 | $1,078,220 |
2024-2025 | 2,548 | 430 | 11,139 |
The cumulative amount of aid, including the value of food, provided by St. Ann Conference over the past four fiscal years (including 2023-2024) exceeds $3.5 million dollars. Our members pick up food from local grocery stores six times a week, and from the TEFAP (USDA) food drop once a week, which we share 100% with our neighbors in need.
Note: Fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. Big families have 7+ people.
Financial Assistance
St. Ann Conference seeks, secures, and administers grant money to help neighbors in need facing emergency financial dilemmas to pay utility bills, rent, and temporary housing.
Since 2020, The Conference has received $155,000 in grant money from foundations and larger donors to rescue the poor from stressful financial circumstances and help them strategize their present and future needs. The Conference helped 190+ families relieve part of their financial distress from rent and utilities.
Grant | Fiscal Year | Families Helped | Grant Amount |
PUF | 2020 | 25 | $50,000 |
PUF | 2020 | 10 | $20,000 |
FOTP | 2022 | 8 | $5,000 |
GSF | 2022 | 43 | $20,000 |
GSF | 2023 | 51 | $20,000 |
HC | 2023 | 15 | $5,000 |
GSF | 2023 | 45 | $20,000 |
SHG | 2024 | 44 | $25,000 |
HC | 2025 | $10,000 | |
SHG | 2025 | $25,000 |
PUF=Polk United Fund (administered by the United Way during COVID); FOTP=Friends of the Poor (from the National Council of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul); GSF=Good Shepherd Fund of Catholic Foundation; HC=Haines City, Florida; SHG=Sacred Heart Grant