Hand that feeds the hungry gets bitten

Maybe a paycheck doesn’t last through the month. Maybe it’s between trips to a food bank. Maybe all the grocery money went for car repairs.

For whatever reasons, cupboards are bare. If you haven’t been there, you can’t know what that’s like. I can scarcely imagine being destitute, getting up and having nothing healthy to feed my child for breakfast — or lunch or dinner.

Up on Highway 92, needy people make their way several times each week to a church between Lake Stevens and Granite Falls. Most of them have never set foot in Holy Cross Catholic Church. The parish of about 300 households opened a year ago, combining members of an old church in Granite Falls with Catholics from Lake Stevens, who previously had no church.

It’s food, not worship, that draws some visitors.

“There are other food banks, but this is to tide people over. It’s part of our outreach,” said Steve Homiack, administrator of Holy Cross parish. “If you need a bag or two, maybe you have some kids, hopefully this will get you through.”

Last weekend, Homiack was discouraged to find that for the second time since New Year’s, food intended for the needy had been stolen from a storage shed. A heavy padlock was broken and food donated by parishioners or collected by volunteers was gone.

He suspects it happened Saturday night. “They took canned goods, packaged goods, probably what they could haul out on foot,” Homiack said. “You just look at it and go, OK, people are hurting. People come here in need.”

Holy Cross has a church building, a separate parish hall, and the shed. In January, Homiack said, a hinge on the shed was damaged and food stolen. This time, the thief or thieves cut the padlock.

Homiack reported the theft Sunday, and a Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy, David Harkins, came to the church, he said. “We had heavy-duty locks on there. They used some pretty big bolt cutters,” Homiack said. Several new winter coats were also taken, he added.

“It’s frustrating,” said Rebecca Hover, spokeswoman for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. “People are in need more than ever, and good people are coming together to help.”

Hover said the Sheriff’s Office hasn’t detected a spike in crime related to the tough economy. “That doesn’t mean it’s not coming. All those food banks are going to be critical in our community in the months ahead,” she said.

Unlike some Catholic churches in Everett and other cities, Holy Cross doesn’t have a St. Vincent de Paul charity food bank. And while Volunteers of America food banks in Everett, Marysville and other cities serve thousands, the outreach efforts of Holy Cross are small – small but crucial.

Even before the new church was built, the Very Rev. Joseph “Jay” DeFolco, its pastor, fostered the outreach ministry, Homiack said. Volunteers now go weekly to supermarkets to pick up food, and church members bring their own donations.

Needy people come to Holy Cross from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays, 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to noon Fridays for groceries, free transit passes and other help. Compared with urban areas, it’s a place with few social services. “We’re one of the main providers out here,” Homiack said.

As crime goes, some missing food is small potatoes. For the 10 or so people who find their way to Holy Cross whenever food is given out, it’s no small thing. Imagine — the cupboard is bare.

“The irony is not lost on us, we give it away. If you lived around here and needed food, and we had it, we would give it to you. Pretty simple,” said Homiack. “I don’t know if somebody really needed it.”

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen goes through an informational slideshow about the current budget situation in Edmonds during a roundtable event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor recommends $19M levy lid lift for November

The city’s biennial budget assumed a $6 million levy lid lift. The final levy amount is up to the City Council.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

A firefighting helicopter carries a bucket of water from a nearby river to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Snohomish County property owners can prepare for wildfire season

Clean your roofs, gutters and flammable material while completing a 5-foot-buffer around your house.

(City of Everett)
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag

City staff said a stadium could be built for $82 million, lower than previous estimates. Bonds and private investment would pay for most of it.

Jennifer Humelo, right, hugs Art Cass outside of Full Life Care Snohomish County on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Full Life Care in Everett, which supports adults with disabilities, will shut its doors July 19 due to state funding challenges.

The age of bridge 503 that spans Swamp Creek can be seen in its timber supports and metal pipes on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. The bridge is set to be replaced by the county in 2025. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Snohomish County report: 10 bridges set for repairs, replacement

An annual report the county released May 22 details the condition of local bridges and future maintenance they may require.

The Edmonds City Council gathers to discuss annexing into South County Fire on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Community group presents vision for Edmonds’ fiscal future

Members from Keep Edmonds Vibrant suggested the council focus on revenue generation and a levy lid lift to address its budget crisis.

Some SnoCo stores see shortages after cyberattack on grocery supplier

Some stores, such as Whole Foods and US Foods CHEF’STORE, informed customers that some items may be temporarily unavailable.

A rainbow LGBTQ+ pride flag hanging from a flag pole outside of Lynnwood City Hall moves in the wind on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood to develop policy after pride flag controversy

Earlier this month, the city denied a group’s request to raise an LGBTQ+ pride flag at a public park, citing the lack of a clear policy.

The Washington state Capitol on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)
Washington governor wants agencies to look for deeper cuts

The state’s financial turmoil hasn’t subsided. It may get worse when a new revenue forecast comes out this month.

Members of the California National Guard and federal law enforcement stand guard as people protest outside of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, on Tuesday. (Philip Cheung/The New York Times)
Ferguson prepares for possibility of Trump deploying troops in Washington

The governor planned to meet with the state’s top military official Tuesday, after the president sent the National Guard and Marines to respond to Los Angeles protests.

Traffic slows as it moves around the bend of northbound I-5 through north Everett on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Officials: SnoCo commuters should prep for major I-5 construction

Starting in June, a significant repair project in Seattle will close northbound I-5 for days and reduce the number of open lanes for weeks.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.