By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -
MIAMI| Jorge Nodal and Anailys Benitez know what it means to leave everything and everyone behind and start a new life. The young couple began their immigration journey from Cienfuegos, Cuba in May 2024. After traveling through six countries, they were cleared for entry to the United States Aug. 12, 2024.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Aracelis Avila takes a break while volunteering at Catholic Charities Matthew 25 Food Pantry in Miami. Avila and her family first came to the pantry in March 2020, when they distributed food drive-thru style during the pandemic. Moved by their work and the needs of the community, Avila and her family began volunteering at the pantry.
Once in Miami, they were referred to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Inc., which helped them apply for food stamps and other government assistance. At the Matthew 25 Food Pantry, owned and operated by Catholic Charities and located at 14205 SW 142nd Avenue, Miami, the young couple observed how the team working at the warehouse radiated a love and care for the operation they helped maintain.
After their visit, Nodal and his wife went home with food, a care package, and many thoughts. That night, he and his wife sat together and reflected on the most impactful things of the day, a habit they always had. Their feelings were mutual when it came to the Matthew 25 encounter.
“Even though we had practically just arrived, with thousands of needs, and thousands of things, we were so impacted by them that we wanted to help. We were so motivated by what we saw and how we felt that day, that we called Iani Carvalho [director of Matthew 25] and committed ourselves to volunteer and serve,” said Nodal.
Matthew 25, formerly operated by the St. Vincent de Paul Society that branched out of Mother of Christ Church in Miami, was acquired by Catholic Charities in January 2024. With a new name and some rebranding, Matthew 25 is currently the largest food pantry in Miami Dade County, managing an average of 84,905 pounds of food donations per month, and feeding over 1,500 households two Saturdays a month and during the week when necessary. It is all possible with donations from food bank partners Feeding South Florida and Farm Share, as well as donors Vision 2000 and Iberia. Donations are also received directly from the local Target, Costco, Walmart, Publix, Sprouts, and Aldi.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Vegetables and other produce are among the items that are packed and distributed at Catholic Charities Matthew 25 Food Pantry in Miami shows a variety of food items. Over 1,500 households receive boxes like this one on the first and third Saturdays of the month, and weekly if needed.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
A view of the boxes packed and distributed at Catholic Charities Matthew 25 Food Pantry in Miami shows a variety of food items. More than 1,500 households receive boxes like this one on the first and third Saturdays of the month, and on a weekly basis as needed.
Operating Matthew 25 is no small task. It takes about $700,000 annually to cover operating costs, rent, maintenance of equipment, maintenance and replacement of commercial refrigerators, four full-time positions, and other expenses.
So, when people approach Carvalho, who is the director of operations at Matthew 25, and they ask, ‘Can we help?’ she answers with “Absolutely.”
Catholic Charities hopes donors will consider supporting them in maintaining the endeavor of Matthew 25 during Give Miami Day (November 21, 2024) and Giving Tuesday (December 3, 2024), as well as other upcoming holidays and giving opportunities.
“Through Catholic Charities, we provide an enormous amount of meals annually across our programs. But now we actually have a food pantry for the first time. This is a blessing in disguise, and we’re doing a lot of good work,” Carvalho said.
Part of that good work is made possible by the community of volunteers who help Matthew 25. Some of them have been around since the pantry was operated by St. Vincent de Paul Society. Matthew 25 counts on a team that works Mondays and Thursdays to sort food and other nonperishable items.
“They help us set up and they start bagging fruits and vegetables, bagging potatoes and peppers and things that we're gonna be distributing,” said Carvalho.
Other volunteers assist with client enrollment and registration on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Volunteers range in all ages and nationalities, and even high school students from public and Catholic schools come to help, includingArchbishop Coleman Carroll High, Immaculata-La Salle and Belen Jesuit Prep. In exchange for their help, they receive community service hours.
Many of the volunteers, like Nodal and his wife, are current clients, while former clients also continue to serve.
“They see the value and they appreciate what we do, and they offer to help,” said Carvalho.
Aracelis Avila and her family first heard about the pantry in March 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, St. Vincent de Paul was distributing food, drive-by style, with boxes and bags of food being carried and placed in vehicles as they passed by the pantry. One day in 2021, while waiting in the car line with her family, Avila stepped out of her car and approached the team. She offered to help while her family waited in line. Over time, she became a regular volunteer, as did her family.
With the transition to Matthew 25, she met Carvalho and expressed that she was comfortable working in any position available at the food pantry. She also vouched for fellow volunteers.
“I told Iani at the beginning that there was a lot of potential, we have a lot of people who have not had the opportunity to evolve in how they can serve,” said Avila.
An accountant fluent in English and Spanish, Avila volunteers when she can to digitally enroll clients into the Matthew 25 distribution database. She also helps verify data to make sure there are no duplicates. Her system provides clients with a number that must be presented with an ID to receive their goods.
“It is really organized now,” Avila said.
According to Avila, there are 30 to 35 consistent volunteers who have been there for years. Seven of them are part of the original St. Vincent de Paul team. With high school students who serve, and other new volunteers, the team sometimes grows to as many as 50 volunteers for the first and third Saturday distributions.
“There’s a lot of food and a lot of families, and we have to serve them quickly,” Carvalho said.
On distribution Saturdays, the Matthew 25 team works from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. For the staff, it is a 12-hour day, as many arrive between 4 and 4:30 a.m. to begin preparations. There are volunteers who show up at that time as well.
“We are like ants at work, but I am very happy for the opportunity,” said Avila.
FIND OUT MORE
To find out how you can volunteer or donate to Catholic Charities Matthew 25, call 305-964-7816 or email [email protected].
To help Catholic Charities sustain the efforts of Matthew 25, consider donating during Give Miami Day (November 21, 2024), Giving Tuesday (December 3, 2024), and other upcoming holidays and giving opportunities.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Volunteers and staff of Catholic Charities Matthew 25 Food Pantry in Miami pose for a group photo at the warehouse where they distribute food and other goods to over 1,500 households on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
