LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Laughlin joined forces with other federal agencies as part of Feds Feed Families donated and unloaded 6,100 pounds of food, Oct. 11, to Val Verde Loaves and Fishes, a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization in Del Rio, Texas, who provides food for those in need.
Feds Feed Families is an annual event in which federal agencies in and near Del Rio donate food to Val Verde Loaves and Fishes.
Many local and federal agencies assisted in the unloading of approximately three months’ worth of food. The food aids as many as 1,500 families per month.
Even though the food is donated, Val Verde Loaves and Fishes covers the shipping cost which costs as much as $5,500 per month.
The food pantry began in 2012 by a local church. Since then, it has grown based on need with the vital help of volunteers and directors, Gisela Lenz and Bill Cauthorn. The food pantry grew from an organization assisting 35 families at first to a project affecting 648 families a month.
“We are lucky that we have all these federal agencies who help us with this community task,” said Henry Arrendondo, Del Rio city manager. “This helps a lot of elderly-sometimes it helps families where the grandparents are raising their kids.”