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Samoan Independent Pentecostal Church feeds Lemon Grove needy, with help of Mt.Miguel football team.By Bill Pogue
November 21, 2011 (Lemon Grove) -- The largest, annual free food distribution in East County occurred on Friday, November 18, was made by the Samoan Independent Pentecostal Church, where they rent church accommodations from the Lemon Grove Lutheran Church at 2055 Skyline Drive. This is the 8th consecutive year that Pastor Ulalei Tausaga, his wife Mai and son Smith, and their congregation performed this feat.
They obtained food mostly from Feeding America and from the Food Bank of San Diego. Any resident ofEastCounty may request free food. As in two previous years, a special note was that Coach Tom Karlow and 56 members of the Mt. Miguel Football High School Football team, in their colorful red football jerseys, formed a line and gave out the food of those who registered as East County citizens.
Starting Quarterback Ernest Wars, a senior, said that “Coach teaches us thru this that it is better to give than to receive; helping others makes you feel better about yourself, as well”. The Mt. Miguel football team has a 9 and 1 record thus far, this year.
By 9:30am, about 400 people had come thru the free food lines, and the people lining up and waiting extended about 150 feet out of the parking lot and around the front of the church on Skyline Drive. An estimate last year was that 5,000 persons would benefit, including family members. Pastor Ulalei said that there were many more people this year, and that he thought that it was due to the unemployment situation and the rising cost of foods.
Each person brought a wheeled basket of about 2 cubic feet, and each was filled with very fresh and healthy foods: pumpkins, potatoes, kiwi, carrots, pears, hot dog buns, bread, ice cream cakes, tortilla chips, assorted cookies, crackers, salad.
In addition, food distribution is done on the last Friday of each month, except during the holiday season, when it is done the Friday before then. In addition, there will be a food handout on Monday the 21st of this month. From 5-7pm for the community of Lemon Grove. In December, there will be a Christmas dinner and food on Monday the 19th from 5-7pm.
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