Long lines at a Socorro food pantry on Tuesdays

For many people, stocking up on groceries can drain your wallet, but a food pantry in Socorro is working to make sure the surrounding community has meals to eat.

Volunteers at the Ebenezer Food Pantry said the need is great. Young and old, people wait in long lines for their turn to fill boxes with food to feed themselves and their families.

Steve Carrillo said he not only volunteers at the pantry, but has visited for rations of food.

“I was struggling, and I didn’t have enough money,”said Carrillo.”They helped me to get on my feet and give us food.”

Bags of fruits and vegetables, milk, bread and freshly made tortillas to accompany meals prepared onsite are given to upwards of 200 people at the pantry on Tuesdays.

Volunteers said, in a month, around 2,000 families are fed from the Ebenezer Food Pantry.

One woman waiting in line, Maria, said the food is very good and helps her keep down her grocery bill. Something she said she has to do.

“Most of us are seniors because we know we have barely enough with our check monthly,” said Maria.

Volunteer Maria Teresa Gurrola said she has been donating her time at the pantry for more than 30 years.

“I see people sometimes walking with a cane or a walker,” said Gurrola. “The other day I saw a 90-year-old lady!”

Volunteers said that when people come, they never leave empty-handed.

“It’s a blessing,” said Gurrola. “We are blessed.”

Click here to donate your time or food to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger