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As already mentioned, that Thursday was full of the concern of the possibility of not having enough food to put in two bags for all the people.
The Program Director, Carmen, sees the need in the community and says that one of the biggest challenges has been to maintain the program with enough good food.
They have such a need. I feel a weight when there isn’t plenty of food.
I say, 'My God, the people will come and there won’t be enough.' I feel like it’s my house, that you have to give them something.
So seeing the need for people motivates you to keep doing it and to seek other ways to bring more for them.
For now, Nehemiah is getting food by giving a donation to a larger food bank.
Right now we are getting food from a food bank; it’s the only source we have right now. We give $50 each time we go and that $50 gives us food for 60 families.
And although it’s more work, Carmen notes it’s worth it to give these people good food.
Most places give dry food. Because you know that this is more work. Giving cans to people is just that, but to be cleaning vegetables, that's a process.
There are also many places that distribute food and they say, 'There it is. Grab it.' They will not give in bags like us, but we want it to be well done, clean.
Someone who goes to another church was telling me that in her church they give out food, and they have it in a lot of boxes and you grab what you want from there.
It doesn’t matter how good the food is. But we clean it up, and it’s a pretty long process.
For the reason of wanting to nourish their neighbors adequately, Nehemiah has begun to seek other ways to get food.
The truth is that you feel bad. You feel bad when you see people in line — they come and see that you have little food for them.
That's when you start to worry and try to find other ways to get food.
The idea I have right now is to go directly to the stores. If I have to go to stores and pick up the food, like to go pick up bread and other things,
I really do not mind going and pick up food, because as you saw today, there was not enough bread for everyone.
The Project would like to give donations to have more opportunities to get food from food banks,
but unfortunately, in this case, the food pantry is working with less than it had before the recession.
Our budget per year is only $3000. With that money we are trying to make the Project last.
And the situation is that we cannot do much of what we want when we see a budget of about $3000.
You have to figure that this money needs to last all year because if it does not, the Project ends.
The budget is very small, very small.
Carmen says she is expecting another increase in demand of food and the Project seeks to meet this demand with a lot of work and faith.
With the economic situation going on right now, I think I will see an increase. There is so much need.
One says, 'Wow, people are [really lining up].' The community needs this. You see the great need and you can't help but put on their shoes.
But I've seen that when you give, God gives you double.
Behold, God multiplies things. It is true!