   |
 |
Hunger Impacts Homeless Vets, Soup Kitchen in Works
Hunger Impacts Homeless Vets, Soup Kitchen in Works 1/28/13
Matt Rist
mrist@ cbs7.com
CBS 7 News Reporter
January 28, 2012
FORT STOCKTON-As the population grows, so does the number of residents without homes. Community members in Fort Stockton are trying to do something about it--as residents, including veterans know first-hand what it's like to go without.
Vietnam veteran Ralph Coldiron knows the pang of hunger.
"I've gone 2, 3 days without eating,” said Coldiron, a Vietnam Veteran without a home. “When you're stuck in a town like this all you can do is starve."
Coldiron served his country and worked for years--like many in Fort Stockton, he's down on his luck.
"I've worked for a long time,” Coldiron said. “For more than 20 years, but I was laid off and my benefits ran out."
Members of Triunfo De La Fe Church in Fort Stockton give back to the community with a food pantry. Now they hope to launch a soup kitchen where community members
"We want to offer free meals with no questions asked,” Soup Kitchen organizer Juan Rios said. “There are so many veterans out there in need and we want to bless them.”
Rios is spearheading the new kitchen. He was inspired to give back after a 2006 work accident, where he was left in a coma for a month and lost his own family home.
"It was a difficult time, but that’s why we want to give back,” Rios said. “So many people helped us and no we can help others.”
Rios says his wife and daughters pitch in with the effort. The soup kitchen will help veterans just like Coldiron.
"You don't know what it means to get a hot meal after not eating for two or three days." Sot/ Ralph homeless
The church hopes the problem will become a thing of the past -- but in the meantime the soup kitchen is still in need of donations to get on their feet. If you would like to make a donation to the Triunfo De La Fe Church to get their soup kitchen going, you can contact Rios directly at (432) 349-4911. They will also be having a benefit performance for the church of comedian Johnny Gonzales on March 16 at the Pecos County Civic Center.