OGDEN -- A leader at a church with a mission to feed the hungry is hoping that some area businesses and individuals will step up and help.
Pastor Chris Gutierrez of C.L.U.B.B. Jesus, which stands for Christians Living United by the Blood of Jesus, is hoping to get a financial boost that will help him rest assured that the church will be able to pay the rent and keep its food bank going.
"We've been able to make it work," Gutierrez said. "We have a good team of people. It's all volunteer work."
The nondenominational church has been open just longer than 18 months and has sponsored a food bank for just about the same length of time.
The church has a contract with the Utah Food Bank to hand out the excess the food bank collects for those in need.
Last year, the church handed out 165,000 meals to the surrounding community between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesdays.
But Gutierrez said the small congregation of 50 to 100 on any given Sunday has a hard time coming up with all the money it needs to pay the rent and stay afloat on running the appliances and other necessities for the food bank. Sometimes the pastor has to hold a fundraiser to earn enough money to pay the rent.
"The Bible says ask and ye shall receive," he said. "Without asking, you can't receive."
Gutierrez said he's hoping someone with some means of assistance will see this article and respond.
Last fall when the Utah Food Bank was running low, some area residents responded with a food drive that made up the difference.
Now, Gutierrez is hoping for the same miracle.
"We're not a congregation that has a ton of money," he said. "We make it month to month."
Gutierrez said in about a year, the congregation may be able to receive its 501-C3 nonprofit status, and then members will have more doors open to them in finding money for their operation.
In the meantime, though, he's hoping for some old-fashioned generosity to come forward.
C.L.U.B.B. Jesus is at 3333 Wall Ave. in Ogden. To reach Gutierrez, call 801-695-3890.
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