During the last few months and to survive the hardships from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many people have been resorting to food banks, community organizations, and churches for food donations to feed their families.
St. Matthew Lutheran Church at 2108 W. 21st St. has a soup kitchen called Comedor San Mateo that has operated every Tuesday and Thursday at noon for many years. Reverend Cesar G. Sifuentes and his wife, Deaconess and family counselor Elly Sifuentes, have worked at the church for almost four years, managing this soup kitchen. The virus has taken a toll on the amount of food donations they receive weekly, however.
The couple has more than 45 years of combined experience serving various communities in the U.S. and abroad in Latin American countries such as Panama, Peru, and Mexico. The soup kitchen they operate at St. Matthew Lutheran Church feeds on average 50 to 60 families every week.
“Since the quarantine started, many of our regular donations came to a halt because many were directly affected by the pandemic,” explained Rev. Cesar Sifuentes. “Some got sick or have family members that contracted the virus, and many lost their jobs.”
In addition to working at the food pantry, Deaconess Elly Sifuentes is a trained family counselor. She counsels victims of domestic violence as well as providing counseling for children and family therapy.
“God has given us the task to feed people and offer spiritual counseling, and I am trained to give spiritual healing and psychological help,” she explained.
Besides domestic violence victims, she sees many couples seeking marriage counseling, family members from divided households, and families of kids with different last names.
“I feel blessed to do this,” she said. “Many people have ignored the word of God, and we help guide them by providing spiritual healing.”
The Sifuenteses are asking the community for food donations to replenish their soup kitchen. Interested persons can visit the church and drop off non-perishable food items such as canned goods, pasta, rice, beans, meats, and vegetables. Monetary donations always are welcome, too.
For more information, visit the church at 2108 W. 21st St. or call (773) 847-6458.
—Ivette Sandoval