The Los Angeles Order of Malta teamed up with Catholic high school students to launch a new program, Operation Beat Hunger, which brings the group's commitment to helping those in food insecurity to a broader audience.
Angelus News reported that around 100 volunteers gathered early in the morning at St. Peter's Italian Church near downtown to prepare and pack 10,000 shelf-stable meals given to collaborating food pantries by the Order of Malta Mobile Ministry in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.
The protein-packed lunches will supplement the 50,000 pounds of fresh produce delivered to local food banks each month by the order.
"We decided to model that service for young people, facilitating an opportunity for them to see the face of Christ in the poor and the sick, which is a central part of our charism," Order of Malta Hospillater Michael Psomas said, as quoted in the report.
Teamed Up with Catholic High School Students
According to the report, the high school students that partnered with Cathedral were St. Francis, Verbum Dei, Mayfield Senior, Notre Dame, and Bishop Alemeny.
Domenick Lewis, a senior at Bishop Alemany, said that It's good to contribute to a more significant cause and think about how the food will impact people.
The Angelus News states that the program will deliver meals to St. Francis Center in Los Angeles, St. Robert's Center in Venice, Juan Diego House in El Monte, Proyecto Pastoral in Boyle Heights, St. Peter's Church, and St. Norbert Church in Orange.
St. Peter's Food Outreach Program is stocked with and operated by the Order of Malta, helping hundreds of people every month. Operation Beat Hunger is one of many charitable initiatives Father Fernando Cuevas Preciado hopes to continue.
"Today is a day to teach young people that sharing is the way to help, to apply the gospel of the Lord in a very touchable way. I'm very impressed with the high schoolers who came. They are a blessing, and we are grateful," Father Cuevas said, as quoted in the report.
Operation Beat Hunger
Operation Beat Hunger will be expanded to more places in the Western United States by the Order of Malta. It is one of the order's several service activities that are financed and administered.
Along with their food pantry ministry, the Los Angeles Knights and Dames prepare and distribute hygiene and self-care supplies to the homeless, run free flu vaccine clinics, and offer warm coats and backpacks to those in need.
The Order of Malta
There are more than 100 countries in which the Order of Malta serves the sick and impoverished through humanitarian, medical, and social projects. The Order of Malta was established 900 years ago by lay Catholics to help the sick and poor.
The Los Angeles chapter is one of the largest in the world, with 205 Knights and Dames dedicated to communal prayer, hands-on service, and financial support of dozens of outreach projects and charity organizations across the city.
Although the plurality of its patients come from Central America and Mexico, the clinic welcomes people of all ethnicities, nationalities, and religious beliefs.
They do not need confirmation of citizenship or even residency because its principal mission is to care for the poor and needy in the field of healthcare.
