“… for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me….” Matthew 25:35

AR and Fred Pointer, longtime leaders of Watsonville First United Methodist Church, have been chosen by Second Harvest Food Bank as 2014 Hunger Fighters of the year. Congratulations! AR and Fred have been passionate about fighting hunger for as long as I have known them. They spearhead the efforts of our church to support hungry people in every way we can.

As members of the Advisory Committee of the South County Winter Shelter Program, AR and Fred have been active participants in the weekly winter meal program provided by the City of Watsonville through the Salvation Army. They set up and maintain our yearly schedule, obtain food, organize the food storage area, pantry and kitchen, and coordinate volunteer teams of cooks and helpers from our church, as well as from other organizations in our community, to cook and serve meals every Saturday night. Wow!

AR & Fred have also volunteered directly at Second Harvest for years. They have been instrumental in getting the Food For Children program into our neighborhood, where we provide Second Harvest food and fresh produce in our back parking lot on the first Thursday of the month for up to 80 families. They meet with the families, obtain necessary paperwork and identification, and then help individuals carry the food to their cars.

AR and Fred Pointer have dedicated themselves to helping those in need, especially the hungry and the homeless. Working with Second Harvest Food Bank, they inspire our church and community to become the hunger fighters God calls us to be.

Truly, AR & Fred Pointer have been instrumental in making our mission to serve others a reality! What a blessing. I hope you’ll consider attending their awards dinner in Santa Cruz on Wednesday, March 12, 2014. Call the church office for more details, or online.