By Marci McPhee, JustServe Specialist San Antonio East Stake
“My granddaughter just got out of prison and we could sure use the food,” said an elderly woman with a large multigenerational family under her roof.
That family was one of many families helped on Saturday, October 12, thanks to the ongoing partnership between Catholic Charities and the San Antonio East Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The partnership supports a monthly visit of the Mobile Food Pantry called “Hope Mobile” at the Las Palmas Building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 655 Castroville Road. This month, a team of members from the High Country Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Catholic faith volunteered alongside college students from local schools, who were there to help and to gain valuable community experience.
Some visitors knew about the pantry because of signs in the neighborhood; others heard about it through social media and word of mouth, especially from members of the Church who worship in that building, who reached out to neighbors and friends. One sister even provided warm rice pudding for the volunteers on that chilly autumn day.
In November, the Mobile Food Pantry will not be available for the monthly visit, because it will be used for a special project of the Catholic Diocese. But it will be back on December 14th from 9-11 a.m. at the Las Palmas building at 655 Castroville Road.
During November (or anytime), additional support for individuals and families is available from St. Stephens at 2127 South Zarzamora from 9-11 a.m., Monday through Friday. St. Stephens offers food, clothing, referrals to legal, tax and housing help, and rental and utility assistance.
Many thanks to Catholic Charities, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other volunteers for collaborating to help our needy San Antonians, serving as Jesus Christ served, with dignity and love.