This past week, I was asked to travel to Immokalee in order to film a short movie for Guadalupe Social Services. Many people may not realize it, but GSS, for short, is the Catholic Charities organization that runs the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, the Clothing Room, the Shower Program, the Food Bank, and many other services for the people of Immokalee. It is extraordinary to see how these dedicated people serve their community, regardless of the circumstances that these individuals and families come to them in desperate need. The love, happiness, and respect that flows through all the workers and the people they are assisting is contagious and I hope you will all be able to come to the Feeding Hunger, Filling Hearts event on Ash Wednesday to join in the community to support GSS and see this movie (more on the event soon).
As part of the filming, I enlisted a family from our parish to assist with the cameras. They also got to pitch in during the soup kitchen’s service and provide food, drinks, and smiles to those that came. I cannot find the words to describe the experience, so I will let a letter from the youth that came with me speak instead:
