By Ken Jarvis, Area Media Specialist
“We went from feeding 60,000 people a week to 120,000,” said Eric Cooper, President and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank and member of the Summerglen Hills Ward, Hill Country Stake. That simple statement regarding the increased need for food during the pandemic has resonated with many in greater San Antonio. The challenge is clear, to find ways to keep enough food coming into the food bank to keep it operating.
One of many people who resolved to help was Bishop Thayer Rogers, also of Summerglen Hills Ward. He proposed a service project that would invite stake members to bring groceries to a central location where volunteers would collect the food, put it in bins and turn it over to the Food Bank.
Stake and ward leaders realized the project was a good one. However, they knew they not only needed many volunteers throughout the day but they needed to ensure that the project was carried out in a manner that protected the health of the volunteers.
The Hill Country Stake Presidency saw a way to get the volunteers as well as help with another problem. “The last activity we had with our youth was the Trek from March 12 to 14,” said President Freeman. “It was on trek that we received word about the pandemic closures for all our church meetings. Over the past few months, we have become increasingly aware of the needs in our communities as well as the sense of isolation our youth felt as a result of on-line school, on-line seminary, and stay-at-home orders.”
President Freeman went on to say that in contemplating this proposed service project, they were prompted to invite youth from seven of the Stake’s ten units to provide most of the staffing. “As they ended school that week, we felt working together on a great community project would be a perfect way to start their summer and reconnect with each other and many stake members and neighbors as they dropped off their food donations. The response from the youth was terrific!”
Not only was the volunteer response good but so were the donations. “We collected 7,150 pounds of food and 180 pounds of pet food,” said Brother Lamb. “That far exceeded not only our expectations but those of the Food Bank!”
Brother Cooper said that was enough food for 5,585 meals. “We are truly grateful,” he said. He then added, “We distribute about 1.5 Million pounds a week to nourish families. We are always worried about our food supply but we just keep working to bring it in.”