A dream Mirla Bernasconi has had for more than 28 years has finally come true.
“I have always wanted to have a food pantry at our church,” said Bernasconi, a parishioner of Pomona’s Charisma Life Church. “And here it is.”
Bernasconi fought back tears as she watched the line grow in the church’s parking lot, knowing these men, women and children would not go hungry that night.
“I used to walk the neighborhood, going door to door asking for (food) donations and come back with small plastic grocery bags,” she said.
That’s all in the past.
Late last year, Bernasconi began talks with Fran Robertson, resource development director for the La Verne-based 501c3, Sowing Seeds for Life, to establish a food pantry and distribution center at Charisma.
Sowing Seeds for Life was founded in 2005 with the mission to eliminate hunger. It gives out more than 1 million pounds of food each year to those in need, Robertson said. It also provides educational aid, housing, medical, nutritional and social services to local communities.
“So many of our clients come from the Pomona area, we always thought it would be great to have a pantry there,” Robertson said. “We also wanted to have a pantry available on a weekend. This pantry fits both those needs.”
The food pantry had an unpublicized opening earlier this year.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” Robertson said. “We had figured on about 10 people and ended up having 102.”
More than 25 volunteers were on hand to hand out nonperishable foods along with bread, fruits, vegetables and more.
Robertson explained donations are welcome. Paper goods, feminine products, diapers and hygiene products are a sample of the items that cannot be purchased at the LA Food Back where food is bought at 26 cents a pound.
According to its website, 100 percent of all public donations directly fund the program.
“It’s because of these two women that’s why this is happening,” said Fred Mendoza, Charisma’s pastor. “This means so much to so many. It allows us to share the loving care of Jesus Christ our Savior with the community.”
