ESCONDIDO: Church starts food distribution system
Nutrition provided for seniors, disabled, needy
By JOHN RAIFSNIDER - For the North County Times | ∞
More than 100 people attended Saturday's food distribution program set up and run by the Mission Villa Nueva Church in Escondido. (Photo by John Raifsnider - For The North County Times) 
Mike Doody, right, the director of the North County Food Bank, gets help unloading food from a volunteer prior to Saturday's food distribution program run by the Mission Villa Nueva Church in Escondido. (Photo by John Raifsnider - For The North County Times) ESCONDIDO ---– In a matter of just six weeks, an Escondido church has developed ---- from scratch ---- a food distribution system that on Saturday evening served more than 100 needy people in Escondido.
Deborah Graaff, a recent Mission Hills High School graduate, presented the idea in July to Danny Perez, the man behind community outreach programs at Mission Villa Nueva Church. In her proposal, Graaff explained her ideas for developing a way the church could distribute food, not only to members of Perez's church, but also to other area residents.
"As part of a senior project at school, we students were to find a way to serve in our community," said Graaff, an incoming freshman at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. "I already had some experience with a project ---- Nutrition Awareness In Action ---- at our school, and so I used what I learned from that, as part of my presentation to Danny."
According to the Nutrition Awareness Web site, the group strives to "raise awareness of the needs of undernourished people living in the North San Diego County area."
"It was Deborah who came to us and said she had an idea on how to help people in our area that needed food, but weren't able to get it," said Perez, a church volunteer who runs the food distribution program from Pioneer Elementary School, the site where Mission Villa Nueva parishioners meet on Sundays.
"Deborah told me she had some experience at this, that she had done a senior project on feeding the hungry," Perez said. "We thought it was a great idea, and in just two weeks, we were helping more than 25 families in our community."
The food distribution program, which Perez says has served a high percentage of senior citizens and disabled clients, is held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Saturday at the school near the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Ash Street in Escondido.
"We are a little surprised at the number of senior citizens that have been showing up every week, and there are also a lot of disabled people coming to pick up food," said Perez.
"Everybody knows that times are hard right now, but we didn't realize how bad it was for some people, especially the senior citizens in this area ---- they are really struggling," he said.
Mike Doody, director of the North County Food Bank, said he isn't surprised by the high percentage of seniors and disabled that the Mission Villa Nueva church program is serving.
"It's a growing problem for people of all walks of life," said Doody, who has been in charge at the San Marcos-based food bank for three years. "Even people with college degrees are having a hard time making it these days, so it's no surprise to me that they are seeing a lot of senior citizens coming to pick up food ---- sometimes it's the only food those folks will have for a week."
That seems to be the case for 51-year-old Emily, who didn't want to give her last name.
"You can imagine how important this is and what it means to people like me," said the unemployed former schoolteacher who says she is battling health problems.
"I have no real income, and so I'm not able to buy much food," she said. "What I get here every week is just about all I'll have all week."
Emily said distribution at other food banks is sometimes infrequent and offers little to meet her nutritional needs.
"Some of the other food distribution programs only offer canned goods and processed bagged food, that's not what I need to get healthy again," she said. "It's not what most people need.
"That's what's so great about this place, they offer good, nutritional food for the people who come here. I know I speak for the others that are in line here when I say that we appreciate all that these people are doing to help us get food every week."
Perez said he enjoys the role he's taken on to help feed needy families in Escondido, and that his greatest reward is seeing the smiling faces of the people he's helped.
"It's gives you a great feeling, to know what you are doing is helping another person or an entire family," said Perez, as he prepared to feed the hungry on Saturday.
"Because we are Christians, this is what we are called to do ---- to help others as much as we can.
"I enjoy helping others and seeing how happy it makes them to know they will have food to get them through another week."
More Stories
Advertisement
Friend wrote on Aug 30, 2008 11:38 PM:Good On Ya. God Bless! And Stay Safe.
p.s. Ignore all negative comments forthcoming in these blogs. You guys are doing a Good Thing! Thank YOU!!
XOXO A True Friend
jvc wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:01 AM:At the risk of sounding ungrateful for these efforts to help the needy with
food, we must stop the food pantry
system of feeding! It would be more
humane and accountable of donations if we provided food vouchers to local markets to help the needy with food!It is now time that all charitable giving be made
accountable of all donations given from our hearts to those less fortunate, donations rife with fraud! We give as a nation over four billion dollars annually to the needy but most never get to see this giving from our hearts!
This kind of exploitation of the poor is a national disgrace and is further proof of our
claim against being a nation guided by
Christian morality!
Danny P wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:27 AM:first I want to thank the NCT for covering this, and to clear up that the name of the church is "Mision Vida Nueva".
second,I'd like to invite more people to be part of this effor to help our brothers and sisters.we need more volunteers that want to do the real thing , come and make a difference in somebody's life!
third, I want to thanks Dennis French and Mike Doody for his support and love to others, they're a vital part of this effort.
a lot of people knows me because I'm an activist in this city, I try to give voice to the people that doesn't have voice and to stop the city council from destroying our community, but this is my real call, to serve people in need and to provide anything to make it better for others, at the time that we bring the good news to others.
I hope people stop doing nothing when there's so much need in the community.
volunteers wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:30 AM:people who wants to volunteer can show up to the distribution center at 5pm every saturday and students in need of community service are welcome too,we'll provide them with prove of the service for their schools.
Appreciative wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:07 AM:One can appreciate community members who band together and do the unexpected to help others.
Awesome wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:46 AM:I'm so glad you guys are doing something to help the poor - especially with resources that are free and available. Thank you for giving your time and effort - I'm sure it is exhausting! It is a true encouragement to see how willing you all are to help the community.
Thank you!
Observer wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:57 AM:Real help to people is not about a government program that passes out vouchers. Preventing food from ending up in landfills by giving to people who need it is a simple way to do more for less. People helping people is a positve experience.
MikeD wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:23 AM:Helping people is a unselfish way to give of oneself without having any expectations in return. Credibility is gained by being involved.
Greg in Oceanside wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:28 AM:This speaks volumes of the generosity this great community is known for.
I certainly hope those in need, namely citizens, elderly, and handicapped, are the ones receiving the help, and that hordes of illegal aliens aren't the ones benefitting most.
Need more wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:34 AM:It is hard to believe that people in our country are hungry and have a tough time getting enough food. Our leadership continues to pour food into other nations while ignoring this at home. This is a good story. The US is becoming a third world country and quickly going the way of Mexico and Asian countries with only rich and poor and nothing else. Who controls the food and water, controls you.
EscoWatchDog wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:45 AM:Good job. Food is so expensive these days and you are doing a great service to our community.
cmon greg wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:09 PM:is that all you can do? mention the illegals?why do you have to turn this particular topic into a debate?
EscoWatchDog wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:55 PM:Greg is ignorant. You can't think of anything else. Plus, note the use of the word "hordes", in other words, Greg is comparing the "Ilegal alien" to animals. Way to go Greg, that must make you feel like a proud human being.
bogie wrote on Aug 31, 2008 2:37 PM:jvc @ 12:01 AM:
"At the risk of sounding ungrateful for these efforts to help the needy with
food". You risked it and you do sound ungrateful. What is your personal issue with these giving volunteers?
bogie wrote on Aug 31, 2008 2:48 PM:EscoWatchDog @ 12:55 PM:
"Plus, note the use of the word "hordes", in other words, Greg is comparing the "Ilegal alien" to animals"
Let's see EWD, from dictionary.com;
"horde"
"1. A large group or crowd
"2.
a. A nomadic Mongol tribe.
b. A nomadic tribe or group."
How in the heck did you make the leap from a human group of nomads to animals? Way to go EscoWatchDog, that must make you feel like a proud human being to use misinformation in your rebuttal to Greg.
From american Heritage Dictionary
"mis·in·form"
"To provide with incorrect information"
to Greg wrote on Aug 31, 2008 2:49 PM:you should find your way to read a bible and to see that Christ gage to everybody, I'll be praying for you Greg, you really need God in your life.
Thanks wrote on Aug 31, 2008 2:50 PM:from the bottom of my heart I thank you from what you're doing.
precious wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:54 PM:Some people are blind to their own ignorance. Individuals working together to help the disadvantaged are community builders.
Mary E. wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:15 PM:I was so glad to read of this effort by Mission Vida Nueva. As a member of New Life, I am convicted by the fact that I didn't know of it in advance in order to help and pray for this effort. I will be looking more closely for opportunities to serve like this in the future. MVN, it's humbling to see all you have done in the time that you have been a congregation. I thank God for you, and your efforts and dedication are a motivation to those, like me, who have been too complacent in our approach to love and help until now. Well done, my friends.
My Dad was involved with wrote on Sep 1, 2008 10:35 AM:several free food give away programs through his church, the combined church group and also through St. Vicent De Paul. He would get so angry because the same people (yes those people who don't even speak English) would go to all three of the give aways. Teach a man to fish and he can feed himself. Deport him and we can teach our own kids to fish.
Why isnt it wrote on Sep 1, 2008 10:38 AM:Mission New life??? Is it so the people recieving will understand? Keep giving and they will keep coming and your children will lose America. Mexico has a culture of corruption they are exporting to the US.
your dad didnt do his job properly wrote on Sep 1, 2008 11:10 AM:if he has done it , you would be appreciating his work with others; 'm sure that he did it with all his heart to help them. it's sad that he didn't teach you how to love your neighboor!
Danny P wrote on Sep 1, 2008 11:21 AM:to: why isnt it
most of the people that we're helping are American Senior Citizens that need our help. they're are great people who need just a little assistance to be in better shape. I'm sorry for all the people with those negative comments; we'll pray for you and if one day you need us, we'll help you with all our heart!
Mision Vida Nueva wrote on Sep 1, 2008 11:24 AM:we'll pray for the oportunity to help people in need and to be able to inspire others; the time to help is now and we don't need to have super powers to be able to help others!
jvc wrote on Sep 2, 2008 7:55 AM:It is just plain wrong to have all these accolades for people helping the needy and see our country through
10 billion dollars every month in Iraq, down the toilet!My God, who are we as a people?
jvc wrote on Sep 2, 2008 9:12 AM:Should read.... throw.
sara wrote on Oct 4, 2008 2:43 AM:Even people right now. no matter your skin color or nationality. All poeple can use help. The waste of money in the country is rediculous for the war 1 billion dollars every 8.5 minutes. Dont you all think thats alot>?? I feel that if these guys are out to help people living right here in the US regardless of color or race is wonderful and they should be commended.. Great Job Danny and those that help.. I saw Mike Doodey and it says he is the Food bank Man. Who is Dennis French? His name is not in the article. He must work for Mike?
First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.
Today's Stories
Advertisement
Videos
Advertisement