The Meatloaf Ministry was organized in 1983 with a sole purpose of providing 10 to 15 meatloaves once a month for the House of Bread in Hartford, where the homeless are able to obtain meals.  The ministry consists of about 200 parish individuals who have signed up to prepare meatloaves when called.  The ministry also consists of the person who contacts individuals by email or telephone every month and the volunteer who collects the meatloaves and delivers them to the House of Bread.  There is one “meatloaf weekend” for 11 months of the year; no meatloaves are collected in the month of August.  This committee does not hold any meetings.  Each volunteer is asked to prepare a 2-pound meatloaf, bake it, then freeze it, and bring it to the church hall and place it in the refrigerator-freezer in the kitchen.  After a volunteer prepares a meatloaf, that individual is contacted again after about 10 months.  However, we do have a few individuals who each prepare a meatloaf monthly and others who spontaneously prepare a meatloaf for donation.  Young parishioners in the Confirmation class occasionally make a commitments to do this also.  Because of the generosity of these parishioners, the donations have increased the last couple of years. 

One 2-pound meatloaf feeds 6 to 8 people, and it is a versatile staple that is enjoyed by the homeless and prepared by the cooking staff in dinners, lunches and breakfasts.   In 2017, the Church of St. Patrick donated a total of 175 meatloaves; our goal is to increase that to 200 this year.


Should you have any questions, please contact Lorraine Stec at 860-676-1695 or email at bacistec@comcast.net
 

END -OF-THE-YEAR REPORT (2017)
MEATLOAF MINISTRY

I am very happy to tell you that as the result of efforts by volunteers of the meatloaf ministry during the calendar year 2019, the grand total of 269 meatloaves was baked and delivered to the House of Bread in Hartford and used in meals for the homeless.  That number of meatloaves resulted in about 1,614 meals for the homeless served in dinner entrees, sandwiches and/or additional protein for breakfasts.   Our numbers increased for the third year in a row, and this past year represents a 29% percent increase. Meatloaves were collected 11 months of the year--with no collection in August.

Our deepest appreciation goes to all of you who have cooperated in this ministry, especially those who prepare and donate meatloaves monthly and also those who spontaneously donate meatloaves without being called.  Also, the participants from the confirmation class have increased significantly.  St. Patrick Church is proud of confirmation students who are responsible and are learning to respond to the needs of the parish.  A very important responsibility of this ministry is the monthly pick-up and delivery of all the meatloaves to the House of Bread in Hartford.   This is adeptly handled by both Kathryn Donovan Noe and Hallie Niedzwiecki who manage this on an alternate monthly schedule.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all that you do.  You can reach me at 860-508-9650 or bacistec@comcast.net.       Lorraine Stec