Sister Chita Tores (seated, centre) of The Door is Open with supporters at St. Augustine's Parish. The parishioners run a twice-monthly food drive for DIO. (Photo submitted)
The idea apparently came up during a Bible study at St. Augustine's Parish in 2016.
Members of this group suggested good way to celebrate the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy was to start regularly collecting and delivering food items to The Door Is Open, a drop-in centre for the poor and homeless in the Downtown Eastside.
They visited the DIO (which is run by volunteers and Carmelite nuns) and learned what kinds of food items were most needed for the daily lunch program. Then, they launched a monthly food drive.
After the Year of Mercy closed, the group refused to let the initiative go. It has now doubled its efforts, running two food drives each month. Sister Chita Torres of the DIO recently visited St. Augustine's to thank supporters for their generosity.