A ministry bathed in prayer, served in a humble attitude and ina humble setting is embraced by the parishioners of St. Francis ofAssisi Catholic Church and the Brookhaven community alike.

The shelves are neatly stocked with a vast array of canned goodsand other non-perishables.

The supplies await the hungry and needy.

Its servants of nearly a dozen keep the 8-year-old ministry ofSt. Vincent de Paul breathing. The supportive community keeps italive.

But the service itself, stripped to its core, is aGod-calling.

“In our eyes … they are the least of these (Matthew 25:34-40).They really are tearful and scared,” said Mark Nettles,spokesperson at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church’s St. Vincentde Paul ministries. “(They) don’t want to be here, but are gladthat there is someone to help them out.”

Nettles said it is much busier this year due to economicfactors. He said last year more people were working, but this yearthe influx of people in need of the ministry’s services can becontributed to job loss.

Running operations since 2001, the service feeds approximately1,012 people in the local area and with enough for six or sevenmeals, said Nettles. Dr. Wade Ditcharo, church member and localdentist, pointed out that they fed 34 families this past Augustalone.

Ditcharo, who recently started volunteering in the ministry anda longtime financial supporter of St. Vincent, said it is such ahumbling experience to see how appreciative the people are who usethe church’s food pantry for supplies.

He recalled one guy saying, ” I can use anything. I hate to tellyou that because I have never had to ask for anything.”

Why do they do it? The volunteering staff of approximately adozen, including Nettles and Ditcharo, is letting God use them toreach others.

“Just feeling we do have some responsibility for our brothersand sisters” provides enough initiative for Nettles to ferventlyserve in this ministry.

Ditcharo feels this is the right thing to do.

” (Volunteering is) one little way I can pay back for all themany blessings I have received in my lifetime. I’m so thankful thatI am on the giving end and not the receiving,” Ditcharo said.

He and Nettles both realize that being hungry and needy couldalways be a moment away and do count their blessings.

Though some that have used the local food pantry have givenback, returning the favor is not expected here.

“(It is) not a loan. It is a gift from God,” Nettles said.

Local schools, many individuals and several businesses havecontributed financially and/or in physical goods to help keep theshelves full.

The food pantry also can be the means of spiritual fulfillmentwhen the moment is right.

Not only does the St. Vincent ministry feed empty aching belliesof the hungry, it also breathes words of encouragement and hope tothe discouraged and broken. And when called upon, the volunteersshare the words of salvation with those who are strangers toChrist.

And even more practiced among its volunteers is prayer, as thefaces of the families they are serving are not forgotten.

“Pray for em’,” Nettles said, “Always pray for them … theyalways need it.”