DETROIT – A vital source for food for Southwest Detroit families, which was forced to close for months, is now reopen to the public.
The volunteers at Latino Family Services struggled to find a new place to operate when the church they were working out of told them they had to go in February.
"This time that we've been separated from not having a pantry made me understand how important it was for the community, and how important it is to keep the people in this community with the food pantry," said Lidia Reyes-Flores, the executive director of Latino Family Services.
The volunteer-run organization offers a free food pantry to the community at 7 a.m. every Wednesday morning.
"We're here [at the pantry] whether it snows or rains, sleet; we're here because we count on this, a lot of people," Michelle Logan said.
The pantry provides fresh fruits, vegetables and protein to the community.
"You always gotta give back to the community, always, always, always, and this is a good way to give back to our community," Flores said.
Local 4 reported on the problem Latino Family Services was having in finding a new location, and People's Community Services in the Southwest Detroit's Delray neighborhood, opened its doors to the organization.
"God sent People's Community to me, and when I got here, I said, 'Yes, this is it, all I gotta do is meet the CEO' and that was it, that was the end of it, I said. 'What do I gotta do?" Flores said.
Dr. Cassandra Montgomery runs People's Community Services Delray Neighborhood House.
"It takes a village and we see it here. Sometimes, I feel as though this community is overlooked or there's this perception that there aren't any people here, that there's no community, but we are here for that and not to be forgotten," Montgomery said.
Flores said several businesses and organizations throughout Metro Detroit offered their space to the pantry, but it was important to her to keep it in Southwest Detroit.
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ORIGINAL STORY: Southwest Detroit food pantry searching for new home after church parts ways with organization