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In 1989 the Harlingen “Ministerial Alliance” an organization comprised of most of the churches in the Harlingen area met to discuss and strategize on addressing the most urgent needs of the Valley community. Many of these local denominational bodies indicated that feeding the hungry was their first priority since they were attempting to serve the hungry from church or rectory kitchens. Many were concerned that they individually failed since food was not always available and clients were being sent away with little and sometimes nothing to eat. The Alliance quickly recognized that having a single entity serving as their mission arm in this area, was the best way to accomplish this top priority. In 1991, Loaves & Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc., formed by the “Ministerial Alliance”, was incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) faith based community non-profit organization and established to prepare and provide hot meals for the hungry of Harlingen, Texas with “No Questions Asked”. In 1995, the Loaves & Fishes “Job Shop” was established to provide training to those clients that wished to improve their chances of finding a job. In August 2005, Loaves and Fishes acquired an emergency shelter operation providing short and long-term shelter to the homeless in the Rio Grande Valley. The shelter houses persons of all ages, gender, ethnic and religious backgrounds and nationalities.
The Vera Naumann Family Emergency Assistance (VNFEA.org), established in 1939, was added to the Loaves and Fishes organization as its homeless prevention arm. The Family Emergency Assistance operation provides aid and assistance to families that are in need of emergency rent, utility and prescription assistance as a result of the wage earner becoming ill, unable to work or is temporarily unemployed. The FEA also provides the needy with clothing, shoes, food, and household items.
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