ATLANTA—A statue of Jesus hidden as a homeless man sits beside the front steps of the historic red brick Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, while down the block on Central Avenue, a homeless camp lines the sidewalk.  

A Second Helpings food truck pulls in around noon on Thursdays to unload about 800 pounds of canned food, produce and meat to be given away at the parish.  

The Shrine Community Market will soon have deliveries restocking its shelves.   

Thomas Hammond, 74, said he appreciated the unexpected free surprises he takes home from the market, like laundry detergent or socks.  

“They have all the things you need. It’s a great place,” said Hammond. “They do great things for everybody.”  

A sign outside the Shrine Community Market directs visitors where to go. Photo by Johnathon Kelso

This market started in mid-November as the food pantry changed to become a place for customers to shop. This new market replaced an unwelcoming basement room which got little use.  

Lines form outside the market before it opens at 10 a.m. A dozen customers filled buggies and shopping bags with groceries on a recent Thursday, shopping for 30 additional family members.  

“They treat you nice. They get to know you by your first and last name,” said John Tindal, 53, who stays at nearby Welcome House, a complex for very low-income single adults.  

Shopping for yourself helps as people don’t take home food they cannot eat, he said.  

In his cart, he selected bottles of water, noodle soup, coffee, cooking oil. He asked for eggs and milk, but there wasn’t any.  

Food fills spiritual needs  

Janice St. Hilaire reimagined the food pantry. A food outreach service she saw in Colorado inspired her. She could see people were attracted to a market like this. There was little food left to throw away since clients filled their own baskets.  

“They were utilizing all the food and people were coming in droves,” she said, standing outside the Atlanta church as customers shopped.    

Within months volunteers converted the church basement storage room into this twice-weekly market, where shelves are laden with dried beans, pasta and cereal. It’s the pantry staples that go quickly, like cooking oil.   

For St. Hilaire, food is more than a physical need, as it fills a spiritual need too. Growing up in her native Canada, it was how her mom showered love on her family.  

“That carried over to me. It’s how I show my love,” she said.   

Working with food, she cooked as a personal chef. She said the pandemic was an opportunity to turn to God and consider a new direction.  

“I’m almost mad at myself for not doing this earlier,” said St. Hilaire. “Food is my passion.”   

The parish is in the midst of a neighborhood characterized by high poverty. The median household income in its zip code at $11,000 is about one-third of the state level. 

Retired doctor Alex Garcias volunteers at the Shrine Community Market in downtown Atlanta. Photo by Johnathon Kelso

This market started in mid-November as the food pantry changed. The biggest change now is customers of the Shrine Market select food for their families themselves. The only limit is weight: 10 pounds of meat and 15 pounds of canned goods.   

The community has responded. The parish outreach coordinator, Tilla Jones, said the old pantry was used by just a few people, but now 90 households have registered for the marketplace.    

Hammond said the new approach is a lot better with selection and works out faster than waiting for someone to shop for you. Also, coming weekly is a nice change too.  

“It saves you money in your pocket,” he said.  

The market is one part of the parish food program. Under the St. Francis Table ministry, people can get a sandwich five days a week. Thursdays and Saturdays, the community market is open and a soup kitchen program is open on Saturdays. During the winter months, the men’s shelter distributes a meal at night.    

The ministry is supported by the Atlanta Food Bank and Second Helpings food rescue program. The parish accepts as many as six weekly pallets of food. Tilla said the St. Francis Table ministries have been adopted by most parishes in the archdiocese and many other Christian churches, where volunteers and donations from afar provide for people in downtown Atlanta. The St. Francis Table ministry marks its 40th anniversary this spring.  

As a retired doctor, Alex Garcias takes a special interest in the service. Before the pandemic, the 73-year-old traveled with medical missions, helping people without access to healthcare.  

“Most illnesses are related to nutrition,” he said, talking about chronic problems such as high blood pressure, obesity and others.  

Food is not just important to feed people but also helps them remain healthy. “You are providing a service to people who have no alternative means to provide food for their families,” he said.   

Beyond his medical career, Garcias said the work is important as a Catholic. His family came from Cuba as refugees and had very little, so he feels blessed with his medical background to be able to help others, he said.  

“Part of my faith is to give back to the community in different ways,” said Garcias. “That’s part of the Christian way.”