The Palanca Food Pantry is a ministry of Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church, a member of the Diocese of Southeast Florida. The Pantry is located at 3730 Kirk Road, Lake Worth, FL (map). It serves the homeless, working poor, disabled and retired populations in its community and throughout Palm Beach County.
The Pantry proper opens its doors every Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. A box of food is provided to take home. Second hand clothing and household items are available, as well. The Pantry also partners with churches, and other organizations, located throughout Palm Beach County, to provide sit-down meals Monday through Friday as follows:
- Monday 12:00 PM bag lunch with soup (partner: Ministry to the Homeless and Needy and St. Patrick's Catholic Church);
- Tuesday 12: 00 PM lunch (partner: St. Rita's Catholic Church);
- Wednesday and alternate Thursdays 4:30 PM supper (partner: Servants of the Great I Am);
- Friday 4:30 supper (partners: 1st week of the month, St. David's in the Pines Episcopal Church; 2nd week, St. Joseph's Episcopal Church; 3rd and 5th weeks, St. Michael's Lutheran Church; 4th week, St. Gregory's Episcopal Church).
- Miscellaneous partners: The Episcopal Church of Bethesda by the Sea (sustaining grant); St. Joseph's Episcopal School (annual Christmas party); St. Joseph's Episcopal Church (clothing and household item ministry second Friday of every month); Servants of the Great I Am (annual Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter parties); Johna and Janette Cesta and family (annual Christmas stuffed toy ministry); Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department, Parks Division (meal coverage); Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department; Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance; East Coast Farms; Publix Super Markets; Palm Beach County Health Department (last Tuesday of every month); Boy Scouts of America, Gulf Stream Council (annual food drive); Food for Families, WPTV Channel 5 (annual food drive).
Mail service is available to the homeless, and those without a fixed abode, every Tuesday and Friday during the program times.
Should you have any questions concerning the Palanca Food Pantry please feel free to contact Gilbert Purdy. Your correspondence should be addressed to:
Gilbert Purdy
Program Coordinator
Palanca Food Pantry
Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church
3730 Kirk Road
Lake Worth, FL 33461.
Should you live in the area served by the Palanca Pantry and wish to donate used clothing, household items, holiday packages, etc., there is generally someone on-site throughout the day. Should you arrive with the items at a time when the church is unattended, feel free to leave the items outside of a door. Someone will soon arrive and bring them inside. Please do not leave large items as storage space is not available in which to accomodate them. Please do not leave dirty items as sufficient staff is not available to clean them. Please do not leave food items unless you have contacted Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church beforehand and made the necessary arrangements.
Se Habla Espanol y Lenguaje por Señas Americanas.We speak Spanish and American Sign Language.
More About the Palanca Pantry:
- From the Trenches: Palanca Food Pantry Receiving Robofaxes. (Street Prophets). "Our ministry is from God. I’d hate to have the election come between those of us who share it with such dedication."
- World TB DayPartnerships for TB Elimination (Center for Disease Control).
- Palm Beach County Health Department Recognizes World TB Day (Health Department Press Release). "...the Health Department is collaborating with the Palanca Food Pantry, a ministry of Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church and their partner, St. Rita’s Catholic Church..."
- Feeding organizations work to help the homeless in Palm Beach County (Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel [Now archived at Stone Soup Station]). "Many of the regulars face complex challenges, which keep them in a state of joblessness and hunger,..."
- From the Trenches: Primary Experience (Virtual Grub Street). "Dave, the new supervisor of 3056, had come to the church last Friday, during the community meal, to see if he could talk us into giving him a key to the building."
- From the Trenches: the Palanca Food Pantry (Virtual Grub Street). "Our crowds are up about 50% this year and resources are stressed..."
- Mr. Pereira's Neighborhood (Ecletica). A book review interleaved with descriptions of the day to day operation of the pantry.
