Tim Bowers is bracing for a busy day on Wednesday.
That's the monthly drive-thru grocery pickup for needy families hosted by Living Well Ministries.
Bowers is the new director for the referral and resource services at Calvary Community Church. He recently took over Living Wells Ministries when the previous director Julie McGregor decided to branch out on her own with a similar-type ministry.
"I had just retired (from the software industry)," said Bowers, who has been involved with the Living Well Ministry for quite some time.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, this local non-profit group has stepped up efforts in helping the needy.
“We’ve fed a couple of thousands since the shutdowns,” Bowers said.
Donations are made possible by private groups and other non-profits such as Second Harvest Food Bank, which is one of the big providers in acquiring and storing donated and purchased food while effectively organizing and delivering to program sites.
The privately owned Grocery Outlet in Manteca recently made a $7,200 contribution via the employees contribution fund.
"This will allow us to buy groceries or give gift certificates to needy families," said Bowers, who indicated getting $2,500 in gift certificates from the same Grocery Outlet.
He and Jesse Moe, who has helped support Calvary Community Church programs for the past six years, will be preparing the drive-thru Food Ministries scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the church parking lot located at 815 W. Lathrop Rd. in Manteca.
They're expected to begin setting up several hours beforehand, setting up the various food distribution stations and organizing members of the Living Well Ministries team.
"Last month, we had cars arriving at 6:30 a.m. waiting for us to open," Bowers recalled.
Living Well Ministries expanded the religious-based outreach to Food Ministries at the outset of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
"We were doing the drive-thru (groceries) once a week for the first couple of months," Moe said.
Additional information on the Food Ministries or to become a donor is available by calling 209.239.1345.
