by Leisa Parsons, Area Media Specialist
Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know how to serve. Wearing their name tags designates them as disciples of Jesus Christ. As disciples of Jesus Christ, they strive hard to follow His example through service to others. The San Antonio Food Bank recognized the Texas San Antonio Mission of the Church as their 2019 Volunteer of the year. In it’s 22nd Annual Harvest of Hope luncheon and fundraiser, the San Antonio Food Bank recognized the outstanding volunteer work of the Church’s missionaries over the past year.
Jason Tveten, President of the Texas San Antonio Mission, said in a video produced for the luncheon, “… we search out organizations that are doing good in the community and we are very happy to support them with materials and with labor. For us it’s important to follow the example of Jesus Christ. In the scriptures, in the Book of Mormon it talks about, ‘When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are in the service of your God.’ and we believe that very strongly. We believe in the mission of the San Antonio Food Bank — the outreach it does and the Christlike service it provides to our brothers and sisters.”
The San Antonio Food Bank provides invaluable service to Southwest Texas. Through their 530 partner agencies, the Food Bank feeds 58,000 individuals in our communities each week. In fiscal 2019, 78,568 volunteers donated 226,879 hours of service. They have an enormous volunteer force, which makes today’s recognition even more gratifying. President Tveten said: “Thank you to the San Antonio Food Bank and all the partners that support the Food Bank. We’re grateful for your very gracious recognition and again, we feel very privileged and honored to be partnered with you.”
The recognition, designated as “Hunger Fighter of the Year” is awarded in four areas, since the reach and the scope of the Food Bank is so extensive. They recognized “Hunger Fighters” who helped with Food, Time, the Voice and Money. HEB was awarded the Food Hunger Fighter for 2019, with the Humana Foundation being awarded for Money, and Whataburger for their help in raising awareness of hunger, in the Voice category. The Texas San Antonio Mission’s award for it’s volunteer labor was given in the Time category.
Today’s Harvest of Hope luncheon raised enough money to provide over one million meals for South Texans. Each dollar donated to the San Antonio Food Bank provides seven meals. Their efficiency is made possible by the large amount of donated labor they receive, allowing 98% of all donated resources to go directly to hunger relief. The service provided by volunteers, such as the missionaries, blesses lives. President Tveten also believes it blesses the volutneers. He said, of the missionary’s service: “The principles that they learn in terms of serving other people is going to be something that’s going to bless them for the rest of their lives, it’s part of what they do here. By serving others you’re going to gain some valuable lessons in your own life. That’s part of what we hope for them to achieve in their tenure here.”
Elder and Sister Taggart, a senior missionary couple serving in the Texas San Antonio Mission, were on hand at the luncheon to accept the Hunger Fighter Award for Time on behalf of the Mission.