Food Pantry > About Rose's Bounty

In 2015, the West Roxbury Food Pantry on Centre Street closed down due the building being sold. At that same time, the Stratford Street United Church was looking to transform our church from a membership model to more of a mission-based model. When we heard of the news, we knew it was our calling, as Stratford Street United Church has always been big fans of food and fellowship. And the person who was at the center of everything food was Rose Arntz (1916-2014).

Rose (Palermo) Arntz was a woman who for many years came before everyone on Sunday morning to setup food and drink for coffee hour after service. She was a former dancer, who had a heart of gold, was loved by everyone she came in contact with and was loving to all in our church. Later in life at Sophia's Snow Place, we found the same thing, she was loved by all residents. After Rose's death, her son gave a $5,000 donation in her memory to Stratford Street United Church. The Church decided that in memory of all she did for our church, not just around food but around friendship, that we would name the food pantry for her.

As we looked at naming the food pantry, in addition to using Rose's name, we grew fond over the simple definition of "bounty" - good things that are given or provided freely and in large amounts. We thought this word not only summed up the mission, but also summed up what Rose was passionate about as well.