LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Johnny Perez, reverend at Arise Church, has watched food insecurity grow in Lubbock over 24 years. What started as the church buying its own food has grown into a partnership with the South Plains Food Bank.
Church distributes food twice a week
Through its Heaven Manna Ministry, the church hands out food every Monday and Thursday morning starting at 10 a.m. until supplies run out at 50th Street and Avenue P.
Perez said local businesses are not paying as much as they used to, leaving many people on fixed incomes.
“Our local businesses right now are not paying as much as they used to,” Perez said. “So most of our people are on a fixed income. We have also; we have a lot of veterans here on a fixed income. We have people that have already been on SSI on a fixed income. We have single moms on a fixed income. And here it is. The way that they’re making it is by giving back to the community. This is the way the church is supposed to be. The Bible stated when Jesus asked Peter, he says, do you love me? He said, feed my people.”
Reverend says stereotypes overlook the need
Perez said people with stable jobs often do not understand the extent of the need in the community.
“I think there is a stereotype because people that have good jobs, they don’t know,” Perez said. “They don’t know how bad it is. They don’t know how hard it is. They don’t know how hard it is for a single mom raising two or three kids to be able to put food on the table. They don’t know. She has a choice: either put gas in the car or pay the light bill or eat. And these are the things that are coming across. And these are the things that I hear on a daily basis.”
By the time volunteers set up, a line is already waiting. For those who cannot make it because of a disability or limited mobility, the church offers free grocery delivery to those who provide proof of disability.
Perez said the ministry is meant to show people they are cared for.
“We’re here because we care for you,” Perez said. “We’re not here just to feed you. We’re here because we care and we love you. And we’re here because, here it is, we’re giving you a hand up, not a hand out.”
Perez said the ministry is one more way to pour into the community and show people they’re not alone.
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