November 17, 2006

Most Holy Trinity Church Food Pantry Prepares for the Holidays

By Elizabeth Estrella-Basilio
Special to the Times

There’s a little gem in San Jose’s east side that very few people know.

It’s a small food pantry that feeds a big crowd. Four days out of the week, its doors open from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., offering bags of food to needy families. Bags containing sustenance for breakfast, lunch and dinner are given to those who walk up the pantry’s door and sign up for the assistance.

Most Holy Trinity Church food pantry volunteers Joaquin Valdime and Jerry Hernandez.

On the day of my visit to the pantry, I was welcomed by two gentlemen volunteers. They didn’t know who I was as I asked if they will be giving away turkey for the Thanksgiving holiday. A gentleman pointed to a pad by the door and asked me to sign up for a turkey to get on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Next, they asked me if I wanted a bag of groceries. That is how the pantry works. No one is turned away, and for anyone needing food assistance during the holidays, they will provide.

This is what the food pantry, by the side of the Most Holy Trinity Parish office, has done for over 20 years. To date, the church’s food panty has been quietly providing food assistance to at least 700 needy families monthly. Even with the growing number of families that depend on the pantry, the church has always found a way to maintain and stock the dedicated small pantry room as needed.

On my visit, volunteers were preparing bags for those families that will be there when the doors open at 4 p.m.
Tony Sandoval, long-time church volunteer and supervisor of the pantry said, “We’ve seen the number of families grow from 300 to 700 on a monthly basis just over the last three years. …We are fortunate to have the support of the church, its parishioners and the generous assistance of the Second Harvest Food Bank, our Food Assistance Program partner for many years.”

In addition to Most Holy Trinity’s in-house Food Assistance program, the parish also sets up a monthly drop of food supplies by the Second Harvest Food Bank at the parish’s Trinity Center. Every fourth Wednesday of every month, each qualifying family gets at least 100 pounds of basic food items like grains, fresh produce, canned and dairy products. The Second Harvest Food Bank has provided for over 100 families monthly at the Trinity Center for the last three years.

According to Osvaldo Maldon-ado, Community Program Man-ager for the Second Harvest Food Bank, his organization has “a great partnership with the Most Holy Trinity Parish. Their Food Assistance program enhances our program for the east side of San Jose. For many years, we’ve searched for the right place to distribute the food items in San Jose and now, we have the Most Holy Trinity Center as our main facility for the monthly drop-offs – it works perfectly for all involved.”

This coming Thanksgiving Holiday, the Most Holy Trinity Food Pantry will be providing Turkey and trimmings meal bags to those who have signed up before the holidays. The church calls out for Turkey and other non-perishable food (canned/dry) items to help stock the pantry. Donations in cash or kind can be sent to: Most Holy Trinity Church, Food Pantry, 2040 Nassau Drive, San Jose, 95122. For questions, please call Tony Sandoval at (408) 729-0101.