San Gabriel Mission’s Claret Food Pantry started on Feb. 2, of this year and continues to grow with about 60 families given food to make on Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. while food lasts at mission’s parish center patio, 428 S. Mission Dr. in San Gabriel.

“Our goal is to help the needy and families with low income in the San Gabriel area and neighboring cities,” said Deacon Guido Zamalloa, the Claret Food Pantry Committee coordinator. “Some people are embarrassed to show up, and once they find out we don’t ask any immigration status, then they come. We also need help having the event each Sunday morning, like registration, fundraising, transportation, distribution and outreach. The only Sunday we don’t have it is Fiesta Sunday of Labor Day weekend.”

Zamalloa said a few groups have already started helping and include mission Boy Scouts, local high school students, Vietnamese community, and Spanish prayer groups.

The mission is working with Los Angeles Food Bank and has given about 47,000 pounds of food to date. He said the mission is building a large cooler room to store items that need to be cold.

The first store to help to date is Target in Alhambra.

Zamalloa stated the group is hoping a few more stores and businesses start participating and that the mission is thankful for all donations.

He said there is a calendar for volunteers so people can donate a few hours a week or month if they like.

More information is available by calling 626-643-1557.

San Gabriel Mission is the birthplace of the Los Angeles region and is the fourth oldest mission founded in California among the 21 missions.