Last month, the Sonterra Ward Youth assembled 1,558 cardboard boxes from scratch at the San Antonio Food Book. Sturdy cartons are essential to food bank operations since it is the most convenient way to fill customer orders and distribute them. The youth fulfilled a critical need because without boxes, food sits on a shelf!
The youth were organized into various assembly lines to complete each stage of box construction and storage.
Step #1: Boxes have two parts: top and bottom. Unfold cardboard and tape accordingly. Dance to music that many older leaders recognize from their youth.
Step #2: Throw tops and bottoms to the box assemblers. They assemble boxes with the top outside the bottom, or the bottom inside the top. Same difference. Continue reading “Boxing It Up at the SA Food Bank”
“I’m really touched about how we’re teaching in a Lutheran church, and I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who’s working for Catholic Charities, and we’re teaching Muslims. It’s exciting to be a part of that and a blessing in my life.” Carolyn Heywood
When Carolyn Heywood listened to her Church leadership’s invitation to serve newly-arrived refugees in her community in April 2016, she felt the need to get involved immediately. Her online search for volunteer opportunities pointed her to Catholic Charities, a well-known organization that provides comprehensive refugee and immigration services in San Antonio, TX. Continue reading “Inspired to Serve”
Members and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the San Antonio area had a wonderful opportunity to solidify a growing relationship with leaders from Catholic Charities at a luncheon this afternoon. Building on the mutual desire to serve as Jesus would serve, the organizations gave structural overviews to help each better understand how they can best work together.
Tracy Ladgenski, Catholic Charities
Tracy Ladgenski, Vice President of Mission Advancement for Catholic Charities spoke of the various charities and programs that fall under the umbrella of Catholic Charities. Ladgenski also spoke of the wide scope of their services throughout the city, mentioning that much of what they do is dependent on volunteers. Lizzy Nemeth, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Guadalupe Center said: “It was important to learn more about how to connect and understand the stakes and wards within the Latter-day Saint’s Church and also just learning more about all of the ways y’all have already supported us.” Continue reading “Relationship Solidified”
“The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain.”
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
This past Saturday, March 23rd, 2019 a Vigil of Love and Solidarity was held in front of San Fernando Cathedral. After the mass shootings in two New Zealand Christchurch mosques, a group of leaders from the religious community in San Antonio gathered together to support those suffering with this idea in mind.
Imam Beytullah Colak from the Raindrop Foundation started the vigil with a prayer. Sakib Shaikh, the public outreach for the Muslim Children Education and Civic Center, shared his thoughts on why it was so important that everyone gather today.
Other prayers and support were shared by these community leaders: Waheeda Kara, the Chairman SoL Interfaith Center, Rev. Ann Helmke, the Community Faith-based Liason for the CoSA, Rev. Beth Knowlton from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Rev. Gavin Rogers from Travis Park United Methodist Church and Gina Ortiz Jones, an Air Force Veteran Fellow.
Member of the Santa Nino Church Choir
The Santa Nino Church Choir also gathered to perform two songs to draw those at the vigil together through music. These were followed by the supportive words of: Monica Ramirez Alcantara, Chairman of the Bexar County DP, Rabbi Sam Stahl, Rabbi Emeritus Temple Beth-El, Imam Omar Shakir, Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah, Congressman Joaquin Castro, Texas’s 20th Congressional District, Mayor of San Antonio, Ron Nirenberg and Archbishop of Sam Antonio Azaan, Gustavo Garcia-Siller.
Bishop Bruce Baillio saying his prayer
Bishop Bruce Baillio from a local congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave his own prayer in love and support as well. He prayed for continued religious freedom and he echoed the sentiments expressed the day after the shootings by the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church:
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of so many lives as a result of yesterday’s senseless attacks in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Our prayers are with the families of the deceased, the injured, and all others impacted by this tragedy. We also pray for all New Zealanders and our Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world.”
Elder O. Vincent Haleck Elder Ian S. Ardern Elder K. Brett Nattress
Somebody has a name and in this case it happens to be Bishop Tim Mihalski. Many of us see needs but we push it out of our minds saying to ourselves, “somebody will take care of that.” Bishop Mihalski of the San Antonio 1st Ward, in the East Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, became that somebody.
Reverend Ann Helmke shows the City Council the initial “Food Insecurity Map” of the City that inspired Bishop Mihalski and others to step in and help.
Bishop Mihalski attended the City’s first Faith Based Initiative (FB-I) meeting in January of 2018. Reverend Anne Helmke, the City’s liaison to the faith community began the FB-I with the hope that she could bring together congregations and organizations to better leverage resources. According to Helmke, the initiative’s central goal is to “build resiliency among the city’s most vulnerable.” Continue reading ““In the City for Good””
Food “To Go” takes on a different meaning the second Saturday of every month at the Galway meetinghouse. Volunteers from the San Antonio East Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints host Catholic Charities’ “Hope Mobile,” a food pantry on wheels.
Rita Miller, of the San Antonio East Stake’s High Country Ward, helps with the needs assessment forms.
The Church focuses on getting the word out in the surrounding community, and provides volunteers to help fill out needs assessment forms. After the form is filled out, those in need, go out to the Hope Mobile and pick up their food.
Tom Hoog – Director of Community Outreach for Catholic Charities said “Most people walk away with 25 to 30 pounds of food…. Everyone is getting the same thing, and based on family size, additional things as well. Continue reading “Food “To Go””
Adam Walker participates in JustServe.org projectCesar Avena gives instructions to volunteers before cleanup begins.
72 members of the San Antonio North Stake joined thousands of volunteers around the city this morning to help clean up the City’s waterways. City councilman John Courage had asked for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to provide 50 volunteers to clean up the Salado Creek area at Walker Ranch Park. The project, posted on JustServe.org, brought families and individuals out on a brisk morning to don the yellow “Helping Hands” vests and to pick up trash. Continue reading “Basura Bash – Waterways Clean Up Event”
By: Peter Hightower, Assistant Media Relations Specialist
Councilman Brockhouse and CEO Wilson pose for a group photo with Elder Villarreal and other representatives from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
February 6 was an unusually busy day at Haven for Hope, San Antonio’s premiere transitional shelter for the area’s homeless population. Several local dignitaries were on hand as well as many local leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kenny Wilson, Haven’s President and CEO was hosting the group to celebrate the arrival of a large shipment of winter clothing and to accept a cash donation earmarked for the purchase of a new industrial washing machine and two dryers.
Wilson and Brockhouse work together to remove the first bale of clothing.
One easy to overlook area of physical support required to operate Haven is the laundry room. With over 1,700 full-time residents on any given day, the laundry-room runs nearly non-stop. Winter months are especially challenging due to the doubling in the number of blankets that the residents require. All those blankets, as well as bedding and other types of linens, need to be washed on a regular basis. Sometimes, the four industrial washers and dryers simply aren’t enough to meet the demand.
A resident of Haven’s Men’s unit works folding hundreds of blankets.
Rev. Ann Helmke, who is the city’s “Faith Liaison” and heads up the City’s Faith Based Initiative tours the San Antonio Bishop’s Storehouse
“Transformation” is truly the perfect word to describe the work and mission of Haven for Hope. Haven offers a place of new beginnings to Bexar County’s homeless population. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recognized the importance of the work done by Haven and once again offered assistance. This time, the assistance comes in the form of $60,000 of commodities specifically earmarked for those graduating from Haven and moving into a new home. The commodities will come from the Church’s local Bishop’s Storehouse.
Haven for Hope “graduates” between 20 to 30 individuals or families each month. Haven helps them get situated with a move in kit that ranges from furniture to silverware. The commodities, now available through the Storehouse, will allow those graduating to procure needed cleaning supplies, food and other staples.
Haven for Hope President and CEO discusses the impact of the contribution. (left to right) Elder Carlos Villarreal, Kenny Wilson and Celeste Eggert
Kenny Wilson, President and CEO of Haven, speaking about the commodities now available through the Storehouse said: “… this is critical. It is a big deal. To have cleaning supplies, and all of the staple items that they can get, provides a sense of ‘I’m kind of being normal now – I have a place.’” Continue reading “Bishop’s Storehouse to Help Haven for Hope “Graduates””
