HRIC Soup & Sandwich Program

This program delivers soup and sandwiches to the Good Shepherd Center in Lawrence on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month.

The HRIC Collaborative Soup & Sandwich Program (formerly the HR Sandwich Program) is asking for volunteers to help make sandwiches for the Lazarus House Ministry. We ask that sandwiches be cut and individually wrapped, then placed in the bread wrapper. Please label the bread wrapper with the variety of sandwich. Cold cuts and peanut butter & jelly are favorites. Please do not use condiments. (See below for more sandwich making guidelines).
Also welcome are casseroles, party-sized powdered drink mixes such as iced tea and Kool-Aid, along with fresh fruits and goodies!
Drop off is at St. Ann Church, West Newbury from 7–9 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month.
We deliver about 150 sandwiches each time and we also have been delivering 5 gallons of soup/salad.

How You Can Help the Hungry by Making Sandwiches

HRIC Soup & Sandwich Making

These soup, sandwich, and casserole offerings from parishioners help feed all those who come through the doors at Lazarus House in Lawrence, for what may be their only meal of the day.
If you have ever considered participating in the HRIC Soup and Sandwich Program by making sandwiches but weren’t quite sure how to go about it, here is some information to help demystify the whole process and open up the door for an easy, yet very rewarding way to live out your Catholic faith by nourishing those who are hungry.
This can be a nice family activity that instills values of selflessness, generosity, and the closeness that comes from doing something meaningful together.

Feeding the Hungry in 8 easy steps:

1. Check the bulletin for the next HRIC Soup and Sandwich delivery date (2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month). You do not have to sign up or notify anyone you are making sandwiches.
2. Grocery shopping: Head out to your favorite supermarket and buy a few basic items:

a. Bread: Steer your shopping cart down the bread aisle and select a loaf of fresh, hearty bread.

b. Sandwich Filling: Decide what to put between your slices of bread:

i. Peanut Butter & Jelly: Slide on over to the PB&J aisles and select your choice of peanut butter (crunchy or smooth) and jelly or jam. Grape is a safe bet, but raspberry, strawberry, etc. are also great. OR …

ii. Cold Cuts: Dash over to the deli for turkey, ham, bologna, etc. to make cold cut sandwiches—with or without cheese. However, no condiments, pickles, relishes etc., please.

c. Baggies: On the way to the register, zip up the storage wrap aisle and grab a box of Fold and Close or Zipper sandwich bags.

3. Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, make your sandwiches.
4. Slice each sandwich in half and place both halves together in a baggie.
5. Place all the bagged sandwiches back in the original bread bag and secure.
6. Label the bread bag with the variety of sandwich.
7. Take a moment to say a nice prayer for all the folks who will be sustained by your offering.
8. On the designated Wednesday morning, hop in the car and drive the sandwiches over to St. Ann Church Hall, West Newbury between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. You’ll be greeted by cheerful, friendly faces who will accept your wonderful offering. At 9:00 a.m. the transport car is loaded up and all the delicious donations are driven over to the Lazarus House to feed our friends in need.

Making Casseroles for the HRIC Soup & Sandwich Program

As you have read in our bulletin, in addition to soup and sandwiches, the HRIC Soup and Sandwich Program provides casseroles to the Good Shepherd Center in Lawrence. The visitors, who drop in for what might be their only meal of the day, are incredibly appreciative of a tasty, filling meal.

For anyone who would like to contribute a casserole, foil casserole pans with covers, are available to be picked up at St. Ann during the scheduled drop-off hours. On the following drop-off, return the foil casserole pan filled with a delicious, hearty casserole and an identifying label on the outside. If desired, pick up another foil casserole pan for the next scheduled drop off.

A few ideas to help you fill the foil casserole pan: hot dishes like lasagna or mac ‘n cheese—with or without add-ins like broccoli—are always a hit. Cold dishes such as chicken salad, potato salad, or macaroni salad are great for the dog days of summer when it is too hot to cook!

Thank you so very much for prayerfully considering this extremely important mission to help feed those who hunger. May God bless you abundantly!