Last Saturday was like all other Saturdays at Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM), but with some necessary changes to ensure the health and safety of volunteers and those who come seeking food from the YLM-San Pablo Food Pantry.
As an Emergency Food Program, the YLM-San Pablo Food Pantry has been serving the surrounding community for close to 37 years, and there was no doubt to the necessary response to the current uncertainty and need present within the Ysleta/Lower Valley community.
“This is what we do, what we are known for,” Rev Dr. Karl Heimer, CEO of YLM and pastor at San Pablo Lutheran Church, shared during the beginning of the week, “While other food pantries are making the decision to close, we can’t do that. Store shelves are empty every day and people need food. We need to find a way to keep everyone safe and to give them the food they need.”
The solution –a Drive-Thru Food Pantry. With less than ten volunteers at one time from San Pablo Lutheran Church and Zaragoza Rotary Club of El Paso, all wearing the necessary protective gloves and face masks, 150 food boxes were prepared the day before and given out on Saturday morning. People pulled up, popped their trunks or back-door open, and in went the boxes. It was a quick and efficient way to ensure no gathering of people to prevent the possible spread of germs, yet to give out what was needed by so many.
“A lady was so grateful when she saw the eggs in her box,” Maritza Muñoz-Hernandez, life-time member of San Pablo Lutheran Church, shared afterwards, “She shared how she went from store to store but couldn’t find any. Another man thanked us profusely for the food, as he is not receiving any income from his piñata-making business. It was truly heartbreaking to see such desperate need, but we know God placed us all here for such times like these.”
Aside from eggs, there was fruit, bread, vegetables, dairy products, meat products, and the necessary staples like beans and rice. All 150 food boxes were distributed, and although new registrations were temporarily suspended to be able to meet the needs of those YLM is already accounting for, over 40 families who were not registered were able to leave with enough food for the next two weeks.
Working in conjunction with the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, and the generosity and prayers from all who continue to support our mission to change lives through simple acts of kindness, YLM plans to continue providing for the needs of its surrounding community in this tangible and much-needed way.
