Mary's Gate
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Mary's Gate is a FREE Grab & Go lunch program that operates from the Assumption Church and Sacred Heart facilities. We provide a bagged lunch on the last Saturday of every month*. Lunches can be picked up between 11am - 12 Noon from the Assumption School parking lot or the Sacred Hea
rt Auditorium. We are here to help all those who would benefit from an extra meal within the North Boroughs. We also offer a food pantry at both sites that is open the same hours that our lunch pickup is available. Two Convenient Pick-up Locations
- Assumption School Parking lot - 35 N. Jackson Ave, Bellevue
- Sacred Heart Auditorium - 154 Orchard Ave, Emsworth
Any questions please email Jen at [email protected]. -
Get Involved!
There are many ways to get involved with Mary's Gate.
We all have unique gifts and talents, but we also have different schedules, which sometimes makes volunteering a bit more of a challenge. Below are descriptions of the various volunteers roles that are available if you would like to be involved with Mary’s Gate. The approximate length of time your help will be needed for each shift is also listed. Please click the link below the descriptions to sign up for the date and shift that would best work for you! We are grateful for your help!!!Monday Meal Prep - 8:30 - 10:30am the Second Monday of each monthThis role will assist the lead cook in the McGovern kitchen. Tasks include chopping fruits and veggies, assembling or mixing various side dishes or salads, carrying heavy ingredients or boxes (30-40lbs), and filling the containers for the meals. Mobility is necessary as this role will require you to be on your feet from 1-2 hours. Basic kitchen experience is helpful but not necessary.Monday Floor help and bag assembly - 8:30 - 10:30am the Second Monday of each monthThis role will assist the lead in preparing the bags for distribution. Tasks include wrapping dinner rolls, packaging desserts, assembling garden salads and organizing and filling the delivery boxes and bags. Mobility is necessary for this job however some tasks can be done while seated.Monday Meal Distribution 10:45am - 12:00pm the Second Monday of each monthThis role will greet and record those who come to pick up their meals. A few reminder phone calls will need to be made at the beginning of this volunteer shift.Dishwasher - 9:00am - 10:00am the Second Monday of each monthThis role will provide support to the 2nd Monday of the Month Meal program, by rinsing off items used to prepare the meal and putting them through the Hobart dishwasher. Training on how to use the Hobart can be provided. Putting items away after a brief air dry is also part of the roleSaturday Setup & Food Prep - Adults 18+ - 8:30am - 10:00am the last Saturday of each monthThis role may include a variety of jobs, all require good mobility. Jobs that morning may include making peanut and butter sandwiches, wrapping cookies, assembling meat and cheese sandwiches, sorting and packaging fresh vegetables, setting up the bag filling station, filling the delivery orders, preparing the boxes to be sent to Sacred Heart and filling the lunch bags to be distributed from the Assumption School parking lot.Kitchen Help - 18+ Only 8:30am - 10:00am the last Saturday of each monthThis role will help assemble and package the side dishes for distribution. Some basic kitchen prep experience is necessary.Set Up Support - Adult Floater 8:30am - 10:00am the last Saturday of each monthThis spot will provide support to the co-chairs in various tasks - prepping the items to go down to Sacred Heart, working with the Barn staff to organize and sort donations from the rectory and prep pantry bags, assisting with shut-in and family box preparations, putting out the directional signs, washing dishes (Hobart training available), and potentially running over to Kuhn's to pick up bananas or any items we may be running short on.Setup - Students - 8:30am - 10:00am the last Saturday of each monthStudents aged 13 or in 8th grade and older are invited to serve on their own. Please also use these slots to sign up any children who will be working alongside an adult; because of the nature of the work we ask that children younger than 11 or 6th grade not be brought to volunteer as there aren't really activities suited to that age group.Assumption Meal Service - Adults 10:45am - 12:15pm the last Saturday of each month2 adults are needed to greet patrons, distribute lunches, restock pantry tables when needed and keep track of the number of lunches distributed.Distribution Support 10:30am - 12:30pm the last Saturday of each monthLooking for one volunteer to provide assistance with post-bag filling cleanup/organization in the hall. This may include supervising pick up of shut-in/family deliveries, running the dishwasher, wiping tables, organizing the pantry, stacking boxes for next month, checking on the Barn distribution, taking down directional signs, unpacking unused bags.Deliver Meals to Shut-Ins 10:45am - 11:30am the last Saturday of each monthAdults are needed to deliver meals to shut-ins in the North Boroughs/West View areas, 2-5 meals per driver. This role requires volunteers to be able to drive and take the stairs to shut-in homes. This position should take about an hour of your time.Sam's Club Pickup, Delivery - 10:00-11:30am Sunday before the Monday dinner distributionSam’s Club pickup and delivery to McGovern Hall. Pickup would be at Sam's Club at Mt Nebo anytime between 10:00-11:30am so it could be delivered to McGovern while the coffee shop is open. This role will require a larger vehicle and the ability to lift heavy items out of the vehicle and onto a large cart from the hall. Items can go directly into the back left kitchen and placed on the counters or in the refrigerator as appropriate. -
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
If you are unable to volunteer there are many ways that you can still provide assistance to this wonderful ministry.
- Are you a baker? We are in need of homemade cookies each month. We request that all cookie donations be delivered to the Assumption office the day before we serve lunches.
Note: If the date of Mary's Gate falls near a holiday (e.g., Thanksgiving), cookie donations are due by the last day that the parish office is open prior to Mary's Gate.
- Monetary donations can always be sent to the parish office or put into the collection
basket at all weekend Masses. We ask that any checks be written to Mary's Gate.
- We also will accept Kuhn's or Sam's Club gift cards. Non-perishable items, as well as the items that we use to fill our bags, can also be dropped off to the Assumption office or placed in the box labeled Mary's gate in the rear of Sacred Heart Church. Click below for a full list of suggested items to donate.
- Are you a baker? We are in need of homemade cookies each month. We request that all cookie donations be delivered to the Assumption office the day before we serve lunches.
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*For 2026: Note that there are schedule changes in the months of October, November, and December.
October 2026: Distribution is 10/24/26, one week earlier than normal, to avoid Halloween parades.
November 2026: Distribution is 11/21/26, one week earlier than normal, due to Thanksgiving.
December 2026: We will not have a distribution this month.