LOS LUNAS—The Just Serve Organization pulled together 225 volunteers from many churches and service organizations in Valencia County on Saturday, Sept. 23, for a large service event.
Photo courtesy of David Suckow
The community got together at the St. Vincent de Paul Pantry, 960 Main St. NE, Los Lunas, to sort and distribute 32,300 pounds of food to local organizations that will then distribute the goods to those in need. The commodities were donated and delivered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It is estimated that 375 hours of service were provided that day and, in the days leading up to the event. Valencia County organizations that received the food, were very grateful. Many organizations stated that their pantry shelves were getting very bare.
The organizations receiving the food were Belen Area Food Pantry, Peralta Methodist Church, Midwest Community Action Program (CAP), Grace NM Church, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Valencia Community Action Network (VCAN), Valencia County Resource Center and five different St. Vincent de Paul Deanery Conferences. These organizations also helped with the sorting.
Other organizations that provided volunteers for the event were the Los Lunas High School Lending A Paw Service Group, JustServe.org, the First Baptist Church of Bosque Farms and the Los Lunas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“It was amazing to see the community come together and serve, and the blessings will only continue as the food is distributed from the pantries to those in need,” said Cassie Barrios, one of the event organizers.
“It was really great to see so many different service organizations and churches of different denominations come together for the good of the community,” said Melinda Carruth, a volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul.
For information about other service projects in the area, visit JustServe.org.
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
1206
April 25, 2024
