INFOBOX
About the closet
Where: 514 South E Street
Harlingen
Phone: 956-423-1014
Fax: 956-423-3051
Email: [email protected]
By ELSA CAVAZOS
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — An array of organized deodorant, toothpaste and mouthwash was displayed accordingly in the shelves of a new accommodating closet.
Loaves and Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley celebrated yesterday morning their new hygiene closet donated by Molina Healthcare.
According to Juan Rivera, Community Engagement Coordinator for Molina Healthcare, they have worked with Loaves and Fishes in the past. He usually stops by every month to see how they are doing and what they need in order to help out.
“We identify migrant families that need help and we also ask the coordinator what challenges and problems they are facing and this is something that was brought up,” Rivera said.
“The initial fill was donated by Molina Healthcare and I went out and bought all the toiletries, blankets, pill boxes, floss, toothpaste and mouthwash,” he said.
Rivera also mentioned they would continue to help out and every so often they will stop by and fill up the closet as needed.
“It’s a partnership and first and foremost it helps the community because that is what we did it for,” Rivera said.
“We know that we have a lot of low income families in this area and we know that they will benefit from this room, and hopefully, it will be something positive,” he said.
Bill Reagan, Executive Director of Loaves and Fishes, said he is very grateful for this new addition to their organization.
“We need hygiene products for our homeless people, and Molina Healthcare stocked up the closet and promised to keep it stocked, and that will help us in the future,” Reagan said.
“We always had hygiene products available, but we were more stressed regarding those products because we received so many asylum seekers over the last several months so it comes at a good time,” he said.
Loaves and Fishes recently opened up a second establishment in Raymondville and has opened a new mental health counseling center in their Harlingen location.
