CrossPoint member helps fill the rolling cart with produce and other food items for an elderly lady

Serving for different reasons yet the same purpose, CrossPoint Church and the Zaragoza Rotary Club partnered up to help distribute to over two hundred families, which can easily translate to almost 1500 individuals.

Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) is seeing the need for food increasing dramatically as COVID-19 continues to impact the surrounding community.  With this need comes even more needs, one of them healthy and willing volunteers to help the Drive-Thru distribution of food boxes loaded with healthy produce and bags filled with necessary staples happen quickly and smoothly, from set-up at 6:30 in the morning to clean-up completed by 10 am.

“Lines start forming by five in the morning,” Leah Bolgar, one of YLM’s staff members and living on campus, shared with the staff how “It used to be only around the corner, but now, they’re all the way around Padilla and into Zaragoza.”

Zaragoza Rotary Club and CrossPoint Church work together to assemble food boxes of produce as the sun rises behind them

As the sun rose behind San Pablo Lutheran Church, located within the YLM campus, volunteers from both CrossPoint and the Rotary Club, quickly and efficiently filled boxes with broccoli, squash, tomatoes, fruit, and other produce donated weekly by Quality Fruits and Vegetables Company.  Received from the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger food bank are pallets of canned goods and other non-perishable items.  The Drive-Thru Food Pantry set-up allows for vehicles to come onto the campus from the main entrance, pop open trunks or backseats for food to get loaded on as they proceed down the line before being guided to exit from behind the soon-to-be music building.

“We have work for every volunteer,” Joaquin, who helps bring out all food from the Food Warehouse and the Dining Hall’s walk-in freezer, explains as he oversees the different stations to make sure and bring out more items, “From putting together produce boxes to placing items in the vehicles as they move down the line, to breaking down boxes.  We’ve found a rhythm that works for everyone.”

Every person takes on a task or section to ensure a smooth distribution

As vehicle after vehicle, and several people on foot, received bountiful amounts of nutritious food, it was a pleasure to see how well the set-up helped both groups of volunteers work together.

“This was a pleasure to help with,” Pastor Dan Sattelmeier, Senior Pastor at CrossPoint Church, shared as he took a small break, “Everything is so well organized, it makes it easy to just come, plug in people into different jobs, and get the work done.”

Considering the essential aspect of the San Pablo-YLM Drive-Thru Food Pantry, all safety measures are set in place, including face coverings, hand sanitizer available for all, and social distance as much as possible.

“We’re truly grateful for those who are giving of their time,” Pastor Heimer shared with a big smile, “They are serving their community and we’re so blessed to be able to care for those in need, especially during these very difficult times.”