DENVER — Ten years in the past, Donna Lucero couldn’t afford to place meals on her desk. Now, she’s giving again to the identical meals pantry that helped feed her throughout these troubling instances.
“It is simply great to be on the opposite finish, on the giving finish versus the receiving finish,” Lucero stated, reflecting on how she obtained concerned with Group Ministry of Southwest Denver. “We heard about this place from a church, and we got here, and we have been simply overwhelmed by the kindness.”
“Her coronary heart is product of gold,” is a phrase volunteers and purchasers use to explain Lucero. It is what made Group Ministry employees nominate her for Denver7’s On a regular basis Hero.
Richard Butler
Not solely did Lucero face limitations when it got here to affording meals, however she has additionally used a wheelchair for so long as she will be able to bear in mind.
“I used to be injured after I was six months outdated, a gunshot wound. I used to be paralyzed. I have been paralyzed from the waist down my complete life,” she stated.
However that by no means stopped her from chasing her goals.
“Mother and pa all the time informed me, ‘You are not any completely different. You are able to do what everyone else does.’ And that is the world that I grew up in,” she stated. “I even realized the right way to swim. I realized the right way to scuba dive. That was actually one thing.”
And it isn’t stopping her now.
“So long as I can are available in, so long as I’ve the fingers to push this chair, I will are available in and assist,” she stated.
Richard Butler
It is the trait Joyce Neufeld, the chief director of Group Ministry, admires most about Lucero.
“She did not let her incapacity stand in the way in which of her volunteering, which is admittedly cool. Her exhibiting different individuals you can nonetheless do issues it doesn’t matter what state of affairs you are in has actually been a testomony to us for resilience and willingness to offer,” Neufeld stated.
Neufeld stated that mentality is required now greater than ever.
“Once I first began right here, we’d see about 20 to 30 households a day. Now, we see as much as 113 households a day. The principle development has been over the previous two years, the place we have seen a 70% enhance within the variety of individuals,” Neufeld added.
Richard Butler
Based on Feed America, greater than 671,340 individuals are going through starvation, and 172,280 are kids.
You’ll be able to be part of Lucero in her mission to assist the hungry by volunteering at Group Ministry or your native meals financial institution.
“I like Group Ministries, they’re individuals which can be a household. For anyone that anybody desires to return in and volunteer, we are able to all the time use your assist,” Lucero stated.
Group Ministry accepts financial donations if you cannot volunteer your time. You’ll be able to donate right here.
Denver7 incorporates a completely different On a regular basis Hero every week. To appoint a hero in your life, click on right here.
