By Joe Robledo, East Stake Director of Public Affairs
Earlier this month, a group of volunteers from different denominations assembled to assist Catholic Charities in offering food to those in need. Catholic Charities’ Hope Mobile, their Food Pantry on wheels, parked at the San Antonio East Stake’s Galway building to help distribute grocery items to people who had been waiting. Members from the Catholic Church, Baptist Church, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped assess needs and distribute the food.
When asked about their service, a number of the volunteers responded by mentioning that appreciation is evident in those coming to get food and they are grateful for the volunteers. “We often fail to realize issues of self-esteem that can accompany poverty. It’s important to treat families that arrive for assistance with dignity and respect – it means a lot.” said William Barrera from The Church’s 10th Ward in the San Antonio East Stake. Barrera added, “you can see their appreciation.” Nina Rodriguez, also from 10th Ward, said that “even as we helped them fill out the forms [to get the food] you could see their appreciation. They felt they were well treated and it made their visit to the food pantry less stressful.”
Seeing this scene unfold before me, I was reminded of the hymn entitled “How Firm a Foundation”. Referring to those in need we are reminded of what the Savior feels, as the hymn states “In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health, in poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand, … so thy succor shall be. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.”
He will not forsake us. The volunteers who attended were helping the Savior succor the needs of the poverty stricken.