Iglesias de Tulsa alimentan cuerpos y almas
otras iglesias que están haciendo lo mismo", dijo el pastor. "Entendemos que quieren ayudar a su pueblo, sus miembros y su comunidad, así que también queremos ser parte de eso."
Ferrin dio una bienvenida especial a los hispanos locales, aquellos que padecen hambre espiritual o literalmente:
"Estamos aquí para ayudarte. Te amamos ”, dijo Ferrin. "Ustedes son parte de esta comunidad de Tulsa. Ustedes son trabajadores y están listos para asumir lo que sea, y estamos aquí para ayudarles a enfrentar la próxima tormenta y superarla".
El GUTS Church Driveup Friday Food Pantry tiene lugar todos los viernes a las 10:00 am en el campus de la iglesia de Tulsa, 9120 East Broken Arrow Expressway. (La Semana)
ENGLISH
The closing of restaurants, bars, and numerous other businesses in Oklahoma due to the COVID-19 pandemic is quickly taking its toll on the lives of workers, many of whom will not get a paycheck during the crisis. VICTORY and GUTS Church are among the organizations doing its part to make sure none of those affected go hungry during these difficult times with no end in sight.
Carmen Gil is pastor of Victory Hispanic, Oklahoma’s largest Hispanic church. Every weekend, Gil and her army of volunteers give out bags fresh fruit and vegetables to the needy, which is a growing task these days. Gil said this past weekend saw many more cars than usual, something she feels will be a trend in the weeks ahead.
Nathaniel Ferrin is the director of GUTS’ Distribution Center, which every week goes to extraordinary efforts to nourish both the bodies and souls of those in need. Hunger is a problem in Oklahoma even in better days, but now with more people out of work and kids home from school the need is even greater.
Ferrin says GUTS isn’t going to let the crisis stop the ministry from its Christian charity.
“We’re the largest food pantry in Oklahoma,” Ferrin told La Semana. “Every week we serve anywhere from three to five hundred people, and with what’s going on in the layoffs and different stuff like that were expecting that number to rise, but we’re ready to serve. We’re going to continue to give away groceries, and we have probably close to over a thousand bags ready to go for this Friday. And then we’re already prepping for next week and so on. We're going to be here to help.”
Due to safety concerns, those needing food assistance can drive up in their vehicles where volunteers will hand them bags of groceries.
La Semana readers were introduced in a recent article to GUTS Assistant Pastor Juan Charles, who is also head pastor of GUTS’ Hispanic ministry. Charles said that even while grocery store shelves are being cleaned out, many people have kept their generosity intact, and donations of food continue to pour in. This allows GUTS to help not just those who come there, but to other congregations as well.
“Not only are we helping the people that come to our campus, but we’re also offering it to a lot of other churches that are doing the same thing,” the pastor said. “We do we understand that they want to help their people, their members and their community, so we also want to be part of that.”
Ferrin gave a special welcome to local Hispanics, those hungering either spiritually or literally:
“We’re here to help you. We love you,” Ferrin said. “You’re part of this Tulsa community - you guys are hard workers and ready to take on whatever, and we’re here to just help you take on the next storm and rise above it.”
The GUTS Church Drive-up Friday Food Pantry takes place every Friday at 10:00 am at the church’s Tulsa campus, 9120 East Broken Arrow Expressway. (La Semana)