The food distribution ministry started small for the St. Stephen Baptist Church in La Puente, Calif. However, through word-of-mouth, and an ever-growing need in the community, it turned into something greater, and from there, a nonprofit organization named Servant Arms was created in 2013.

Since then, Servant Arms has been working alongside the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to provide food assistance to its neighbors.

“The Food Bank is the source of our existence,” said Lorena Choctaw, Servant Arms’ Chief Operations Officer. “We would not be here without them. They are the ones that provide us with all the food that is being distributed.”

“When you talk to our clients, many of them will tell you that they have to make a decision whether to pay their rent or to buy food,” Choctaw said. “That’s why it’s so important that we continue doing what we’re doing.” 

Christopher Turns to Local Food Banks in Between Jobs

Job hunting and preparing for interviews can be nerve-wracking. Being offered the position should be a celebratory experience. However, Christopher Diaz’s background check at his new place of employment took about three to four weeks longer than expected, leaving him without income. 

While waiting for his background check to clear, he’d been allocating his budget for bill payments he’s trying to sustain during this transition, leaving him with less of a budget for other essentials, including sustenance. Thankfully, he can attend food distributions at Servant Arms.