This article originally appeared in the fall 2025 issue of The Vincentian, the quarterly newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission Western Province.
Food pantry volunteers feed their faith by feeding the poor
On Tuesdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. you will find Cheryl and James Klein, retired educators, at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry across the street from Holy Redeemer Parish in San Antonio, Texas. The pantry is open Tuesday through Friday with a different group of volunteers manning each day.
They take orders at their pick-up window with a few other volunteers, like Cecilia Herrera, a retired respiratory therapist, and Shirley Ellis, who runs the Claver Kitchen across the street and had just finished distributing box lunches, which they have been doing during the kitchen’s renovation.
“I’ve been at the parish since 2002,” she says, listing her volunteer activities. “Social Justice Committee, Prayer Breakfast, Mardi Gras, Juneteenth, pretty much anything Fr. Kevin needs. We are here to take care of our spiritual health, but also for our community.”
James agrees, divulging that they were inspired to volunteer because of Fr. Kevin Fausz, C.M.
“There was a sermon where Jesus said they needed to fish in the deep, and that is what he is doing,” he said.
Cheryl said the pantry serves 200 to 225 people a month. The clients range from the homeless to immigrants living with multiple families in one house.
“There is a big need here,” she said. “Father sees it and has a vision. When we hear of a need, we respond. That is what Fr. Kevin would do, and that is what Jesus would do.”
Photo caption: Cheryl Klein helps a food pantry client fill out an order form.