HEROES & HELPERS

More stories of the good work being done in

South Floirida amid the pandemic.

Food For The Poor recently teamed up with San Isidro Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus to distribute essential items to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Car s lined up behind the Pompano Beach church off Hammondville Road almost an hour before the distribution began at 8 a.m., symbolizing the growing needs of the community.

Items in the distribution on Oct. 24 included shampoo, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent and diapers.

Father Wilfredo Contreras, pastor of San Isidro Catholic Church, welcomed families to the distribution and provided blessings to those who may have lost their jobs or loved ones due to COVID-19.

“We’re providing this as a community to our communities to help them in the midst of this pandemic,” Contreras said in a statement. “We hope this can be a form of relief and a sign of God’s blessing on them as we distribute these items.”

Receiving its third shipment of relief goods from

Matthew 25: Ministries in Cincinnati, Food For The Poor has distributed essentials to the Archdiocese of Miami, Catholic Charities in Miami and St. Bonaventure Church in Davie.

Acknowledging food banks and churches are providing food, Romulo Barbero, the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus San Isidro Council, emphasized the need for household items and personal hygiene products.

“The products are good quality and are very expensive for families, especially those who may be out of work because of the pandemic,” Barbera said. “This is the mission of the Knights of Columbus to provide charity to people in need. We are very grateful to Food For The Poor and

Matthew 25: Ministries because, without you, this would not be possible.”

Items also were provided to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church and St. Henry Catholic Church, both in Pompano Beach; St. Clement Church in Wilton Manors; St. Vincent Catholic Church in Margate;

St. Malachy Catholic Church in Tamarac; and Our Father’s House, which is next door to San Isidro Catholic Church.

Food For The Poor, which is one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, provides services from emergency relief assistance to skills training to primarily 17 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Visit foodforthepoor.org.

ANDRES LEIVA/FOOD FOR THE POOR A volunteer from the Knights of Columbus organizes bags of household items and other basic necessities that were distributed this past weekend at San Isidro Catholic Church in Pompano Beach to local families in need because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The items were provided by Matthew 25: Ministries and Food For The Poor.

Dozens of families line up at San Isidro Catholic Church in Pompano Beach at a drive-thru distribution of household goods and other basic essentials.