53: Melissa Beltran Del Rio

Helping Harvest Food Bank

Melissa is one of the people who literally goes out into the community to distribute food to the needy: setting up mobile markets, set out and display the food, register those involved, greeting volunteers…doing whatever is needed to feed the hungry of the community. She did this every day during the pandemic.

One of the biggest changes Melissa saw during this time was how a regular donor to her food bank could quickly become someone in need of her services. “This could happen to anyone,” she told us. “There is never any shame involved.”

The emotions of gratefulness and thankfulness were so abundant from those she and her co-workers helped. People often wanted to give her a hug, but didn’t dare, out of caution for safety.

Greeting hundreds of people a day, contracting the virus was always a concern of hers. 

Following recommended safety protocol and going above and beyond, it was her daily routine. Thankfully she never contracted the virus and is still out there assisting the needy. Doing so with the attitude of recognizing her blessing and being thankful for every day.