“A nice change.”

That’s how Corine Spincola describes the 30 loaves of fresh baked Italian bread waiting for her every Friday morning at Jersey Mikes Subs in Lakewood.

Spincola, who is in charge of the food pantry operated by Catholic Charities’ Ocean County Emergency and Community Services program in Lakewood, takes the bread back to the center on Second and Monmouth where it is wrapped in cellophane and set in a big basket.

On Mondays, families served by the agency get to help themselves.

These days, the number ranges between 400 and 600 families a month, she says.

Those who receive the bread in their once monthly bags regard it as a special treat, Spincola said, a little something to add texture to the staples that are, of necessity, packed up and sent home.

“They certainly aren’t dissatisfied with the pasta, rice, peanut butter and canned tuna, fruit and vegetables,” she said. But being able to spread peanut butter on a slice of fresh bread is a fine thing.

Jersey Mikes began making the bread available shortly after the store, located at 1195 Route 70, sponsored a successful coat drive in November, said Spincola.

More than 90 coats were collected in the drive, coordinated by Lynda Wynd, the marketing person for the Lakewood store.

She related how every person who brought in a coat got a “Mike’s Meal” – a sandwich, soda and bag of chips - in return.

During the drive, Wynd, a member of St. Denis Parish, Manasquan, noticed that a lot of unused bread was being discarded at the end of the working day. It occurred to Wynd that the bread could be another blessing for Emergency Services clients.

“I spoke to Corine about it and mentioned it to one of the owners and he said, ‘don’t give them day-old bread, give fresh loaves. Everyone at the store was really excited about it. They thought it was really cool.

“Catholic Charities was willing to pick it up and it has been working out very well,” Wynd said.

Spincola, who has been part of the emergency services team for about 14 years – first as a volunteer, then gradually becoming a full time employee – regards the food pantry as a special part of her job.

She has made it her mission to seek out other members of the area food industry whose leftovers can turn meals into special events for the families.

“Besides Jersey Mikes, we pick up day old baked goods from Starbucks. Longhorn Steak House contributes vegetables and sometimes meats, potatoes, mushrooms and onions.

“Everything is packaged in plastic bags and is frozen,” she said. “We have a connection with an Italian deli in Freehold with whatever we need. It’s so nice for the people we serve to have something they can take home, defrost and put in a can of soup to perk it up.”

Aside from restaurants, many parishes and non-profits donate a variety of goods to help keep the program humming throughout the year, Spincola said.

Among parishes contributing regularly are St. Aloysius, Jackson; St. Martha, Point Pleasant; St. Mary of the Lake, Lakewood, and St. Veronica, Howell, said Spincola. She noted that the contributions range from warm clothing to school supplies to Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter meals.