Albert at Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa
of the designated week is to reflect on the need in our community and commit to supporting solutions through volunteerism , event participation , donations and awareness . Father Joe ’ s Villages ’ efforts to provide good , nutritious food to those in need is even more critical now as inflation and rising grocery store prices affect San Diegans like Albert .
Albert , a resident of Father Joe ’ s Villages ’ newest affordable housing community in the East Village Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa , attributes the organization ’ s food pantry with helping him face rising costs . “ The program helps me supplement my income because I don ’ t have to spend so much on food ,” he shared . “ It also provides nutritious food that is not spoiled .”
This year , Father Joe ’ s Villages is distributing more than 2,000 food boxes per month through its Emergency Food Pantry , more than doubling the number served monthly in 2021 . Its Food Services Program also serves warm nutritious meals to those in its Emergency Housing , Bridge Shelters and Transitional Housing programs , as well as those living unsheltered in our community . “ With inflation affecting costs across the board , our food initiatives are becoming even more important ,” Deacon Jim Vargas ,
Father Joe ’ s Villages President and CEO shared with GB Magazine . “ We are blessed to be able to provide food to help San Diegans prevent or exit homelessness .”
However , Father Joe ’ s Villages could not provide its expansive list of services without the generosity and compassion of donors . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , for example , recently provided 24 pallets of nonperishable food - alongside other items - to Father Joe ’ s Villages .
“ A phone call was received from Father Joe ’ s Village with a desperate cry for help . They were almost out of food and asked if there was anything the Church of Jesus Christ could do ,” said Becky Davies , Church Communications Director . “ Within the week , two truckloads of food from LDS Humanitarian Services were on their way to Father Joe ’ s Villages . These two organizations have built up a cooperative and trusting relationship over many years of serving the needs of San Diegans .”
“ It takes the whole community to make the village work ,” Deacon Jim added . “ You cannot put all the work on one person .” my . neighbor . org
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