Matt Taylor ’57 inspires Caravan generosity

As the first stage of the annual “Advent Action” charity initiatives, Mount Carmel students and families donated over 3500 cans of food to the Maple/Morgan Park Food Pantry.  Mount Carmel’s effort will help restock the shelves following the  pantry’s Thanksgiving food distribution, which provided meals for 600 families.

When Mount Carmel delivered its food this year, for the first time in many years they did not see the familiar face of Matt Taylor. Taylor, 75, a 1957 graduate of Mount Carmel and resident of Beverly who has led the food pantry since 1985, resigned in early October due to health issues.

Taylor has gone the extra mile to assist the Caravan in its food drive.  For many years, he has personally delivered a truckload of empty boxes to 64th and Dante in early November, which in turn are filled by the contributions of the school’s 24 Studium.  Then, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, he returns with that same truck to assist a new generation of Carmel guys to do what Taylor has been doing all his life – share with others.

Under Taylor’s leadership, the Maple/Morgan Park Pantry has served as many as 1,200 families per month. It’s open from 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Hungry residents with valid identification can pick up a free bag of food from the pantry every 30 days so long as they live in the 60643 or 60655 ZIP codes.