By Michele Aguilar-Juarez
Photos by Michael Castro
Spreading the blessing of food for the holiday season is a goal for the PHS Bible Club, but this year the need is greater than ever. High costs have made times very tough for those in the community, but PHS students have taken the challenge to help. The Bible Study club sponsored a food pantry to make this season a little less hungry.
Advised by Mrs. Soto, the Bible Club is a group of students that meet during the week to have discussions about different topics, help the community, discuss questions of faith, but over all they have fun together in a safe place.
This is the first year for the food pantry operation. Mrs. Soto started the program, which will run from October through December, the holiday season. The club organized donations to give out to people that need it.
The holidays can be expensive for anyone, but these are tough times, so the need is great. Anyone who has a need is welcome to come to the food pantry and share in the blessings of the season.
The first pantry day was on October 21, where a whopping three thousand five hundred pounds of food was distributed. These can good were donated by the people in our community among other sponsors.
This program’s food distribution is meant to help people in need of this help with food prices going up. Not everyone can afford it. Giving back to the community is a part of what the Bible Club is all about.
With that much food to move, a little muscle was needed, so the New Jersey National Guard military group came to help out to move the two tons of food into the school and up to the auditorium where it was distributed. Then the Bible Club students organized the food to be ready for community members to get on October 23.
Any Passaic student who is at least 13 can participate in the Bible Club. The purpose is to challenge the perspectives of students.
Mrs. Soto said, ¨It is not just about coming and receiving, but also giving.”
The idea for this project started back in 2010 when Mrs. Soto and her husband noticed that this city needed more food. From that grew the idea of having the school help give back to the community.
The Bible Club members share a passion for helping and serving the community with food drives and other fundraisers.
Mrs. Soto said, “Sometimes we take life for granted, so by helping the community we can spread the blessings that we all share.”
She wants students to be exposed to what it means to serve the community, as well as allowing students to get a sense of community and collect service hours, and most importantly see the world through different eyes. It still feels like our community needs more resources, and there are a lot more people to help. The door to the Bible Club is always open, so feel free to join and participate.
Students have many talents and abilities that should be used to help. Participating will build self-esteem, knowledge, ability, self-worth, positivity, and thinking outside of the box and not be close-minded.
Mrs. Soto still has many plans for the future of the Bible Club, like students getting college credit, Thanksgiving baskets, the creation of four scholarships as early as this June and connecting to other agencies that students can help out with. So, if you are interested in getting to the real reason for the season, then join the Bible Club, and help!
