Apples and bananas; milk and eggs; cookies, and Kraft mac and cheese. These are just some of the food items that Jim Mitsch and Tom McShane  brought to Malta House on a recent Friday morning. 

Affectionately known as the “food drive guys,” every Friday Tom and Jim visit the Lower Fairfield County Food Bank in Stamford, CT, where they carefully select a variety of food to bring to Malta House for our moms and babies.

“We try to bring healthy, easy-to-prepare food,” says Jim. He acknowledges, with a smile, that they are “always tempted by the sweets.” (Especially cookies.)

A simple contribution to motherhood

Jim has been making these weekly trips since 2022. After retiring, he started joining his wife, Caryl, and two other volunteers on Food Bank runs. (They sometimes cooked a meal at Malta House, but Jim is upfront that cooking is not his forté!) The Tom & Jim era began in 2023, after Caryl’s friends moved out of the area.

Tom, who serves with the Knights of Columbus, was aware of Malta House for several years before volunteering on our behalf.  Since, “I have come to recognize that every mother I encounter at Malta House is a living example of what true motherhood can do,” he says. “Most have come to Malta House through difficult circumstances and decisions.”

The best thing about these visits to Malta House? “Seeing the faces of the young mothers when we bring in their favorite food,” says Jim. “This small contribution is something we can do to help those in need.”

Tom also notes that providing nourishment is part of the joy a mother feels as she is involved in her child’s growth and development. “We hope these food runs allow Malta House mothers to give their complete attention to their God-blessed duties: their children,” he emphasizes.

Tom McShane and Jim Mitsch were honored for their volunteerism during our 2025 Fall Fling Volunteer & Employee Appreciation Dinner. Learn more about Malta House volunteer opportunities here.