By Ken Jarvis, Area Media Specialist
For the past 18 years Lars Shivley has worked as an over-the-road truck driver for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deseret Transportation. It’s his responsibility to deliver Bishop’s Storehouse commodities throughout the United States and on a limited basis into Canada. “In addition to that, I pick up supplies to restock the Central warehouse based in Salt Lake City. I’m also part of an agricultural fleet that’s responsible for hauling fresh bulk commodities into the canneries and grain supply stores throughout Utah and Idaho.”
But on this day, he pulled into San Antonio with his truck full of food to be distributed to several different organizations responsible for getting food into the hands of those who need it. 40% of his load would go to Catholic Charities. The remaining 60% would be divided between the San Antonio Food Bank, West Avenue Compassion, Coker Methodist Food Pantry, and the Bulverde Food Pantry.
“It is a great gift and blessing to be Christ’s hands,” Shivley said. “I feel in a very real sense that for me this is a calling not just a job. I have the opportunity to help my brothers and sisters wherever I go to bring needed supplies to help them so that they will be able to have the things that they need and to help them know that our brothers and sisters love them.”
He observed that, “When people are hungry, they can’t progress in any fashion. By providing some food for them, then they have a chance to spend some time with their family, have time to get the education they need, have time to go to church and to do those activities that will help make them good citizens.”
Eric Cooper, Executive Director of the San Antonio Food Bank, agrees. “When it comes to giving a fish and teaching to fish it’s not an ‘or’ it’s an ‘and’. We have to do both.” He explained that the mother is not going to meet you at the dock for a fishing lesson when her babies are hungry. “She’s got to make sure her babies are fed and then take the opportunity to get an education and become more self-sufficient and self-reliant.”
Cooper added that in the Food Bank’s call-center they handle about 10,000 calls a day. Their motto is, “Food for today, food for tomorrow and food for a lifetime.”
After Shivley dropped off his load of food in San Antonio he headed for I-10 and Houston, “…to get more of their great peanut butter!”