by Eliecer Vallejo, president, HACER Ministry Corporation
“My faith grew even more when I saw how God opened the doors for the different programs that we developed without resources. Every step was a miracle from God.”
God calls us to feed the hungry, help the widowed, assist the poor, and visit the sick. This became the desire of three members at West Palm Beach Spanish Church: myself, Eliecer Vallejo; my wife, Maria; and Daniela Miranda. What began in a small room at the church has grown to a group of 45 volunteers who share the same passion and commitment with God to serve those in need.
We open a food pantry on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, feeding more than 200 families. Biannual health fairs, in conjunction with the support of organizations like The Caridad Foundation and The Mission Medical Center, provide a variety of free exams, vaccinations, tests, and ultrasounds that otherwise might be unattainable for people in the community.
For the past seven years, our group, Hispanics in Community Action, Education, and Rehabilitation (HACER), has distributed Thanksgiving food packages to the less fortunate. Last year, we gave baskets to nearly 450 families. Each fall, we encourage the public to go online and contribute $25 which will provide a Thanksgiving meal for a family of four.
New projects are constantly surging, such as providing school supplies to children, immunizations, and seminars. The projects become possible when we join forces with other entities in the community who share our commitment.
In my personal life, I find that blessings often come from adversity. When a downturn in the real estate market occurred, I lost properties and financial stability. I used this extra time to make connections with area organizations that bring help and hope to families in worse situations than my own. This work brought me strength even in trying times.
The valuable connections I made with these local companies and foundations have contributed to building partnerships that are working for a better community.