Today my dad and I were driving by the Vallarta Food Bank and we decided to stop and have a look at it.
Co-founder Frankie gave us a tour of the kitchen. There were huge pots and pans all around, stoves with giant burners, lots of counter space, a few tables, and big fridges and freezers with an assortment of poultry and other meats, dairy products, and vegetables and fruits. And at every station there were volunteers working. At one of the tables there were four people picking through a 25-kilogram bag of beans. They told me they cook 25 kilograms of rice and 25 of beans everyday.
Outside there was a stand giving out food to many people standing in line. Today’s dish was lentil stew with over 10 kilograms of assorted meat, lots of rice and beans, carrots, and other vegetables. They also had ice-cold water bottles to give away since it’s been so hot lately. They told me that 500-600 people came to get food that day, and there were still many in line!
On our way home we decided to stop at Lyx ice-cream shop. I got a cone, and then we started to go back home. In the car, my dad said that he couldn’t help but think of the people standing under the hot sun in line waiting to get a meal while we just got ice cream. For some people that hot meal from Vallarta Food Bank is the only one they get for the whole day. We felt very lucky at that moment to have gotten ice cream and then got back into our car and drove home.
Vallarta Food Bank is helping many people, but they also need help from you. Any donation helps them, and it doesn’t only have to be money. You can also donate food items that they can use to cook a meal, or do some volunteer work for them. They can always use your help.
