El Rio Food Pantry
When we prayed to God in 2007 about what plans He had for us to help serve our local community, one of the clearest answers we got was to feed the hungry. Many kids in the elementary schools in El Rio could not concentrate at school, because they had nothing to eat! With many families in this community, incomes are such that they sometimes have to choose between rent and food, because they can't always afford both.
In January of 2008, we took the first steps in God's plan and started providing healthy food to 35 families a week. It was a struggle, as we felt our way through the process and evolved the organization. As of December 2009, we average over 100 families per week and the abundance of food and clothing God provides for this community is truly astounding. In 2010, we hope to be able to add basic medical and dental services to help the people of El Rio.
The Food Pantry is run by volunteers and food is provided by Food Share, the USDA, Children's Hunger Fund, and your generous donations. The Food Pantry is open every Saturday from 8:00AM to 10:00AM. We are located at the 1st Baptist Church of El Rio, at 2857 Cortez Street. Click here for interactive map.
Volunteering at the El Rio Food Pantry is a great experience. There is a team spirit and camaraderie that is hard to beat, and you can feel the gratitude and relief from the families as you help them. Just show up any Saturday morning at 8AM, and we'll help you become part of the team. If you are bilingual (English/Spanish), we especially welcome your help. In addition to helping at the pantry on Saturday mornings, we can use help:
- Picking up food from Food Share in Oxnard each Friday morning
- Updating our database and client records (MS Access and Excel experience helpful).
- Picking up donations of food and clothing from local churches.
One very easy way you can help is to donate food at church. Look for the food barrels up front by the door. Here is a list of most needed food items:
Dry Rice, Beans, and Pasta
Canned Vegetables
Canned Beans
Canned Tomato Products
Pasta sauce
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Cooking Oil
(No glass containers, please)
And some non-food items:
Plastic grocery bags (Save your plastic bags, we need them!)
Egg Cartons
Baby Food, Diapers, Baby Clothes, Child & Adult Clothes also
From time to time, we get requests from clients for furniture or other household items, or we see a need (like a single mother with two toddlers living on a bare concrete garage floor...) and seek donations to fill that need. Check back here often to see announcements and special requests. Feel free to contact us if you have an item you think might be needed.
If you have any questions regarding this ministry, please contact Paul Janowski at pauljanowski@roadrunner.com, Jim Owens at jim@craftsmen-construction.com or Alonzo Garcia at alonso_g@hotmail.com.
Name
Phone
Email
1956 Palma Drive Suite A Ventura CA 93003 l (805)650-2510 l Fax: (805)644-2729
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I'm able to help with
The El Rio Food Pantry
Other Donations Needed
In addition to the food donations, the Food Pantry also needs wagons, strollers, car seats, and baby - children's clothes. Contact Jim, Paul, or Alonzo if your children have outgrown these items and they need a new home!
Mercy Ministries Board of Directors
Alonzo Garcia
Bob Harper
Paul Janowski
Matt Klein
Jim Owens
Bob Wilcox
Restoring Dignity, Generating Hope
Click the image above to access the new El Rio Food Pantry & Tutoring Website!
