HARLINGEN – In less than an hour, 240 boxes of food and 48 gallons of milk were handed out.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, located at 602 Morgan Blvd., distributed produce and milk to anyone in need, with no requirements needed, Tuesday afternoon.
The church partnered with the Baptist Retreat Center and the USDA Farmers to Families food box program.
This has been the third week distributions have been happening said Mauricio Franco, Associate Pastor.
The distribution is being held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 3 p.m., depending on availability.
Franco said he estimated between 150 to 200 attended the distribution on Tuesday.
“This is not just a pandemic we are going through but a hurricane too. We are all in this together. We want them to feel they are not alone,” Franco said.
The box included beans, potatoes, carrots, onions, apples and cantaloupe.
Jonathan Wendorf, 11, was present to help distribute the boxes.
“It’s very fun. I enjoy helping people. It makes me happy. A lot of people are going around trying to get food wherever they can. This is helping out a lot of people,” Wendorf said.
Mina Fernandez, from Brownsville, drove to Harlingen since she did not find any food distribution available, she said.
“My housekeeper’s family has fallen ill with the virus, and I heard about here and came to take it to her,” Fernandez said.
“I think this is a very good idea because there is a lot of people in need. Her family right now can’t leave her house so what we are going to do is drive up and leave it in her sidewalk,” she said.
For more information about future food distributions, call St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at (956) 423-3924.
