Iglesia la Esperanza Highlighted in Paper
Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on October 23, 2009
Iglesia la Esperanza, a Grace Brethren church in Valrico, Fla., and their newly-established food pantry were recently featured in the local newspaper, the Observer.
In the photo from the newspaper, at right, are food pantry coordinators Joseph and Shari Garcia, with their daughter, Kaitlyn (far right).
Below is a portion of the copyrighted story.
Local Congregation Adds Food Pantry
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,” states the Bible’s Matthew 25:35, correlating
to ideals held by Iglesia La Esperanza as the church prospers forth with the creation of a food pantry in Valrico.
Located at 407 St. Cloud in Valrico, the pantry accommodates some 700 sq. feet, where at an estimated 25 families seek sustenance through the weekly giveaway of a boxful of food. Having opened its doors in September, the church is seeking to broaden and expand its calling to provide those less fortunate with food, asking the community to donate canned goods, dry grains – such as rice, beans, pastas, cereals, etc. – and clothing to the undertaking.
“The food pantry was created because we have seen the impact that the economic crisis has had on people of our community,” asserts pastor Jesus Munoz. “Many of them are in distress because they are losing their homes or have not been able to find work; we help so that, at least, they will not go hungry.”
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