"If I can help, I will help." 

- Esther Alcántara, community member

This is a story of God equipping people. While everything was coming to a halt during the pandemic, the food voucher program was gaining momentum. It all started with a divinely planned meeting between Esther Alcántara, a church member of Cordero de Dios; the Winston-Salem chapter of the New Canaan Society; Purple Crow, a local food supplier of Hispanic goods to small storefronts; and Love Out Loud. New Canaan Society had raised money for food donations and wanted a sustainable way to provide food for families. Esther, with the team's help, subsequently piloted the food voucher model with the assistance of Purple Crow.

The team wanted to involve the church in their efforts to distribute food to those in need, but they also wanted to incorporate small businesses and increase traffic to their storefronts. Therefore, they positioned the food voucher model in local storefronts in Winston-Salem: La Victoria and Gama Foods. They wanted to provide certain staples, while also encouraging families to buy whatever else they need from the local storefronts. The idea behind the food voucher model is that it fulfills needs in a way that is unique from food pantries or government aided programs such as SNAP and WIC. It's administered by the church, funded by a Christian organization, supplied by a local food supplier, and distributed by small storefronts. Additionally, since it is not a government program, the recipients don't need to be of legal citizenship. Esther figured out a method of distributing the food via vouchers, operating on a points system. In turn, stores have gone the extra mile to support the food voucher program. 

The primary focus behind the program is building relationships with the recipients, with a driving mission of  "We want to focus on a few, but provide a lot." The pandemic offered a unique window for Esther, the leader of this initiative, to foster relationships with Hispanic families while having less responsibilities at her regular job. Esther communicates with about eighty Hispanic families who are in need. She finds out the family's needs and cultural preferences in regards to food, customizes the food vouchers, and communicates with the stores on what they need. 

"As a pastor, my dad believes that people need to be equipped with more than just Bibles. Jesus came here not only just to teach, but to feed them. In a way, we are trying to model what Jesus did when he was here. Helping the families makes me happy to do something more than just teaching. I love to be able to help in different ways. My heart feels so happy when I can help people in need. It doesn't matter if they need my time or whatever, I'm going to do it if I can. I see so many families in need, and I'm so glad we can help those families." 

- Esther Alcántara, community member

The food voucher program is a response to the pandemic as a way to meet needs right now, but the team wants to make it sustainable in a long-term way for families that changes as their circumstances change. The team hopes to see the program grow, potentially through incorporating technology and understanding more about consumer behavior. The program has been logistically difficult at times, but for the most part it's been simple because the relationships are present. Going forward, they want to keep the main focus of the program on the relationships and trust they have built.

"Growing up, I have definitely been one of those families in need...Being on the other end of that has been really unique...Looking down the road, how can the church do more than just meet immediate needs, but also be on the innovation side of things that develops a sustainable model that meets needs now but also strengthens relationships across the community? The food voucher aspect is great, but it's relationships that carry you forward, and trust and understanding. That's the calling on my heart, to be that to everybody. That overall mission has been in line with what we're doing here."

- Santiago Ramos, Love Out Loud community organizer

To find out more or partner with the food voucher program, email Santiago Ramos sramos@loveoutloudws.com