On Monday morning, June 21st, St. Bonaventure Food Pantry volunteers and clients came together for a Mass to celebrate and appreciate Arley Mc Vittie and his wife Diane, who has supported and served with him. After more than twenty years, Arley has retired.

Everyone who has worked alongside Arley or been the recipient of his generosity has been touched by his selfless service. Beyond the administration and inventory, he woke in the dark, while many of us still slept, to pick up grocery store donations and food bank orders. Before COVID and the shift to distributing outside, you would find him at the parish on Monday afternoons starting the setup and again in the early hours of Tuesday before volunteers and clients arrived.

His tireless service has been driven by his belief in the dignity of every client. Set-up was organized so each client could select their dry goods, produce, breads and meat. With COVID and the move outside, the food pantry maintained that value in their organization.

He, like the rest of our volunteers, knows our clients as friends and neighbors. They know them by name, how many are in their families and recognize when they miss a pick up.

His team of volunteers have divided the work he did, as it needed more than one pair of hands to take on what he has laid down. Thank you, Arley, for everything you have done and given to us all.