Corporal Works of Mercy

We have such a great group of home schoolers in San Antonio.  We joined a group for Catholic home schoolers (TORCH) this school year and have really enjoyed the efforts of the families to incorporate the liturgy, traditions, religion, and works of mercy into our everyday homeschooling.  I especially love to have my children around others who are of the same faith so they know that we are normal...I must say that we spent many years with our children wondering if we were the only ones or just a small group.  I love all of our homeschooling friends over the years but it nice to be around others who do not need our traditions explained to them all the time.

With all that said...today was one of those days when it all came together and we were able to meet our group at the San Antonio Food Bank.  One of our awesome moms (Sheila) set up this community service opportunity.

In the past, we have worked in small food banks in various towns.  The most we have ever been able to do is move a few cans around or serve a meal.  This is fine and work that needs to be done so we go and help out when we are able.  However, this experience was much more than our norm for several reasons...

A LOT of volunteers...We arrived to find our group alone numbered around 30 adults and children (all over 8 years old other than my two littlest ones who started out in the stroller but eventually were allowed to help) and then there were at least as many from other organizations who also came to assist for the day.  This did not even include the regular volunteers and employees.

VERY LARGE facility with a BIG mission...the building was the size of a warehouse with 30 bays that were used to deliver donations and send out distributions throughout South Texas (16 counties are served through this bank).  They serve over 58000 meals every week!

DONATIONS...no amount is too small or too big...nothing is refused.  The Food Bank receives donations of clothing, furniture, toys and other items as well as food for people and animals.  Any items not food related is distributed to one of 55 organizations associated with the Food Bank.  These donations come from individuals and corporations.  We were told that the facility can hold enough food to last their service area for two weeks.

ORGANIZATION...the Food Bank has regular volunteers and employees who keep the flow of products moving.  We arrived to help in the process.  We were told what to do all along the way.  And we had a small order of 150 produce bags to fill.  Yeah...that was considered a small order!  The produce bags included a head of cabbage, 2 grapefruits, 4 oranges, 4 onions, 4 squash, 2 tomatoes, and 2 peppers.  Our big group were able to complete the task in about an hour.  We were proud of our work...then one of the volunteers told us that every Thursday the group puts together 540 produce bags that weigh 20 pounds each.  They complete this order in about 3 hours!

COMMUNITY GARDENS...with all the donations that come into the Food Bank, it is still not enough to care of all the needs.  That is when the idea to produce their own produce came into action.  I am sure you have all heard of community gardens, but this one is almost 30 acres of garden that is producing year round.  We were able to see artichokes, spinach, cabbage, and more growing in the garden today.  Many of the crops had just been harvested and the ground was turned for the next planting.  This garden is run by volunteers from schools and the community, including several Master Gardeners.   The property is owned by the city of San Antonio and is leased to the Food Bank for $1 per year.  Along side this property is the land that produces crops for Pace picante sauce.  I believe some of this food is donated to the Food Bank as well.

SO MUCH MORE!!!...The Food Bank is also set up to help the community in other ways.  If there is a government agency to help the community, the Food Bank is a hub to obtain those services.  An individual can apply for Medicaid, Food Stamps, Housing, and WIC at their client services department.  The Food Bank offers catering services to help fund their projects.  They have a program to prepare meals for various organizations, including schools.  They provide skill training for the incarcerated through their Second Chances program.  They have a culinary school (16 week course) offered to anyone over 18-years old at no cost.  These are just a few of the programs discussed as we toured around the facility with Bill.  He did a great job making the tour interesting for all of us.  He even let us go into the deep freeze...only for 30 seconds, but that was long enough in below freezing room!

 We had a great time helping today and look forward to helping again.  I was happy to see that we were able to have this group effort in feeding the hungry (one of the corporal works of mercy).  We ended the day with a group yell:

Fighting Hunger...Feeding Hope!

A truly Lenten activity that we could all feel good about in the end.  To participate in the corporal works of mercy is a long tradition of the faith.  Here are the ones we strive to teach our children:

• To feed the hungry;
• To give drink to the thirsty;
• To clothe the naked;
• To harbour the harbourless;
• To visit the sick;
• To ransom the captive;
• To bury the dead.

The San Antonio Food Bank covers these works without little left undone.  We were glad to be a small part of that today.