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Victoria man loses job, gives more

Frank C. Huerta began Faith Table Food Ministry at local church

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  • By ERICA RODRIGUEZ - ERODRIGUEZ@VICAD.COM
  • Originally published November 22, 2009 at 10:42 p.m., updated November 22, 2009 at 11:50 p.m.

  • Faith Table Ministry For more information on donating or volunteering with the ministry, contact Frank C. Huerta at frankchuerta66@yahoo.com.

It starts with a cardboard sign and lots of screaming.

The words "free food" scrawled in marker direct people right to the source in the parking lot of Faith Family Church in Victoria.

The cars begin to line up as Frank C. Huerta, a 43-year-old Victoria native, juggles bags of potatoes and fresh pears.

"God bless," he says after he hands over a load to a recipient. He hops back and forth from the back of his utility trailer and truck keeping tabs on the supplies.

This is the office of Faith Table Food Ministry, a program Huerta began shortly after a life-changing moment.

"You kind of take it for granted," he said. "You can just go to the store and buy a loaf of bread. Some people can't do that."

In some ways Huerta could be that same person. He lost his job in January as an operator at Alcoa and since then, like many Americans, he's had it tough.

"We just continue living the way we were," Huerta said. "We've had cutbacks. We couldn't do a lot of the things we used to do. . Yeah, we have hard times financially, but God's provided. We've adjusted to it."

Huerta went from a salary of $65,000 to living on $25,000 of yearly unemployment benefits.

But there was no remorse for Huerta about the situation. His mind was elsewhere.

"When he got laid off, he saw it as an opportunity to do more," said Huerta's wife, Sylvia.

Huerta began Faith Table Food Ministry in April, and since then he and his team of volunteers have served families in Victoria and in surrounding cities. At their last outreach in Port Lavaca, they served more than 300 families.

Now, as the holidays are nearing and economic times are tough, Huerta and his volunteers have seen the number of families receiving food at least double.

"It's a blessing right now," said Mary Ann Gutierrez, 43, who stood in front of a trunk full of groceries, most of which she'd just received from Huerta at Faith Family. She was planning on using the food for a Thanksgiving dinner.

"Right now things are tough," she said. "I just got paid today, but now we're at zero."

Others admire Huerta for his perseverance.

"What he's doing in his situation, it's hard, but he's sowing those seeds," said Jessica Taylor, 27, who picked up jugs of tea and produce for her young children. "He's going to give of himself instead of looking at himself and saying, 'Poor me.'"

At the Faith Table Ministry distribution area volunteers laughed and wished recipients a happy Thanksgiving.

"We're like a big family," said Robert Sarkey, 43, who ushered in people with a cardboard sign. "He does an awesome, amazing job. God's given him a vision and he's really carried it out in helping in ministry to others."

Huerta anticipates he will get his job back early next year, but plans to keep his work with the ministry a priority.

"I enjoy doing it," he said. "Just seeing the response in the community - I want to help out others. No matter what situation I'm in, there's always someone who has it worse. God's always put it in my heart to help others."


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