By: Peter Hightower, Area Media Relations Specialist
Gisela Letz, the Volunteer Director of the Val Verde County Loaves and Fishes knows several members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints very well. Her husband has worked on Laughlin Air Force Base for years with several stalwart members in the community and the new Del Rio City Manager, Matthew Wojnowski, serves in the District Presidency. It was through these relationships that she was made aware of the resources available to her organization through the Church’s worldwide welfare programs.
Letz and her husband started their food pantry about 15 years ago, initially operating out of their small church. In the beginning, they were able to serve about 35 families per month. From 2004 to 2011 their outreach grew to the point they were serving over 500 families every month. It was around that time that she was approached by a local pastor who also worked for the 87th Flying Squadron at Laughlin AFB. The squadron wanted to become a regular sponsor and hold an annual fundraiser to benefit her food pantry. After the first fundraiser raised $40,000, she moved into a dedicated building, an abandoned elementary school donated by the local school district, and changed the name of her program to Val Verde Loaves and Fishes. She registered as a 501c3 non-profit and began seeking larger regular sponsors in the community.
Today, Letz and her staff serve over 1,300 families every month in a community that only has a total population of 33,000. “And there is still a lot more we could be doing” she adds. The winter holidays are a trying time for her organization when demand for food it at its highest. Wojnowski, who serves as a counselor to District President Ross Davidson, mentioned the prospect of assisting Letz’s program with a large food donation from Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City. President Davidson enthusiastically supported the idea, especially after having helped to coordinate large truck-load donations to other organizations throughout his district.
By working with the San Antonio Area Coordinating Council and the North America Southwest Area Presidency, Davidson and Wojnowski were able to secure a large truckload of dried and canned food goods for Letz’s organization. Twenty-five pallets totaling 39,000 pounds were delivered just in time for the Thanksgiving rush. The donation included holiday staples such as turkey, potatoes, corn and beans as well as many other daily use items such as canned fruit, pancake mix, soups and peanut butter. Letz could hardly hold back her tears of joy as she surveyed the nearly overflowing warehouse. “This is just amazing! It is. It’s just so wonderful!” She said.
The delivery also helped make introductions to help her meet on-going needs for regular volunteer. The six full time missionaries currently serving in Del Rio have committed to helping stuff donation bags once per month for up to three hours. “They’ve only been coming for a few weeks but they’re already my favorite volunteers! They’re so positive and upbeat and just willing to do whatever we need done. We just absolutely love them!”
President Davidson agreed with Letz and all accounts and added “This is what we do. We love following the example of our Savior by helping those in need. He taught us to love our neighbors and to care for the needy. And when we can accomplish that through a wonderful partnership with people like Gisela and her staff, that’s even better. We’re all better for it.”