SAN CLEMENTE : Ministry Gives Food to Needy

Drawing inspiration from the biblical saying, “Give and it shall be given unto you,” about eight volunteers gather every Wednesday in the driveway of the San Clemente Episcopal Church to distribute food to about 200 families.

It is part of the Bread for Hungry Ministry, a weekly food distribution program that began more than a decade ago in the back of an old Cadillac.

“The Lord put it in my heart to see others blessed and provided for,” said David Felsenstein, a ministry volunteer.

The weekly food distribution often keeps financially strapped minorities in the San Clemente area from going hungry, participants said. For others, the food boxes are a welcome supplement to nearly barren shelves.

For several years now, Father Bob Boyer of the San Clemente church has allowed the group to use the church’s driveway to assemble and distribute the food. That is the easy part, volunteers said. The hard part is picking up the food donations.

Felsenstein and Tim Early, drivers of the ministry’s van, make daily runs to local supermarkets--Albertson’s, Lucky and Ralphs--for donations of dry goods such as bread, rice, cornmeal and various canned products.

Then on Wednesday, at 5:30 a.m., they drive to the produce market in Los Angeles where they collect tons of fresh fruit and vegetables.

All the food is stored in the church garage and in the home of Miriam Grant, director of the program. Volunteers assemble the goodies into more than 100 cardboard boxes and at about 7 p.m., families come to receive the free food.

“Not only do we get to pray with these people, we get to feed them as well,” Grant said.

The program began feeding the needy families in 1978, when portions were limited to cornmeal and tomatoes.

The bounty of food that families receive is impressive, everything from the basics--such as bread, lettuce, oranges and apples--to dessert, such as cakes, pies and cookies.

Operators of Bread For Hungry say about 85% of the families who receive food are Latino and come from the San Clemente area. There are a few families who come from Mexico, Grant said.

Each family is given a card, which they must show every week in order to receive food. This way, the operators keep track of the food and make sure families are crossed off the list when they do not show up.

Boxes of food are assembled based on the size of each family.

“We try to make the boxes attractive,” said Felsenstein, who has been a volunteer since 1987. Although all the food is donated, Early says it is usually of top quality and always fresh.

“We often pick up the food while it’s still cold and fresh,” Grant said. “ And we eat the same food they do. It takes away the stigma.”

Most families who use the service are referred by the Police Department and social service organizations.

Carmarena Mendez, 38, has been receiving boxes for a year. She uses the groceries to feed herself and two children.

“I like it all,” said Mendez as she dutifully picked up her seven boxes. “That’s why I come. I set aside every Wednesday to be here.”

Mendez enjoys the food and the worship so much, she often comes early so she can help pack boxes.

“I love the food and the fellowship,” she said.