Religion feature: Ministry provides food, clothing based on need

Even though she and her husband work full-time jobs, they need extra help with food and clothing with four growing children in the household, said Anita Gallegos.

CNJ staff photo: Benna Sayyed

Anita Gallegos and her four children select bread and pastries from the Bread of Life Ministry's food supply room at the Matt 25 Hope Center. Gallegos has received food and clothing provisions from Bread of Life for a year.

Anita Gallegos has picked up food and school clothes with her two sons and two daughters from the Bread of Life Ministries at the Matt Hope 25 Center for a year. Gallegos said monthly provisions from the Bread of Life are a tremendous relief.

"It's amazing for us to be able to come up here," Gallegos said. "If we need things for the house we let them know and they'll help us out. I hope one day I can become a volunteer instead of just coming."

Bread of Life provides food and clothing to those in need of assistance and also tries to connect people with a church and employment. According to Bread of Life co-director Frank Ice, the food bank is currently in its sixth year and distributes approximately 12,000 pounds of food each month.

"It's not a complete month's supply of food, it's just a helping hand," Ice said.

"We have a big need in Clovis. It's especially tough on the elderly. Their Social Security check just doesn't stretch that far."

Ice said Bread of Life serves food to about 300 families each month. He said the ministry distributes clothing to about 150 families each month.

Clothing not picked up from the storage area is shipped to third-world countries. Ice said between 25,000-30,000 pounds of clothing are shipped to third-world countries each year.

One of the features of Bread of Life is it allows recipients to make their own food selections. A recipient's level of need is determined based on income, living circumstances and other factors.

"In other words, if a young man just got a job and he doesn't get paid till next Friday he gets a certain number of points," Ice said. "He might get 150 points. A young couple who works part-time might get 200 points. A grandmother raising three or four grandkids would get a larger number of points."

Points are used to purchase food products such as meat and canned and packaged goods. Bread, pastries and produce are free. Recipients can also use their needs list to select clothing and shoes and occasionally cosmetics.

Participants are also notified of job openings with the help of the state labor department.

"A lot of times we've given them this form and we see them the next week or so and they're working somewhere," Ice said. "So we've seen good results with that."

What: Bread of Life Ministries

Where: Matt Hope 25 Center

When: 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Saturday

Cost: Free

To donate: Checks should be made out to Bread of Life Ministries and sent to 217 Wicks Clovis, NM 88101. Food and clothing donations can be dropped off at Matt Hope 25 Center.

Information: 763-4400