Esteban Parra

The News Journal

In a Wilmington churchyard, the Rev. David Andino can be seen on Mondays calling out to people walking near Fourth and North Broom streets in an effort to draw them in.

But it's not to preach to them that Andino is calling their attention. It's to feed them.

Andino, senior pastor at Primera Iglesia De Dios El Peregrino, said that since he's arrived at the church, he's had a calling to help people there with a number of issues, including feeding the hungry.

"There is an amazing need," Andino said last week as he and others at the church passed out bags of food to anyone wanting them.

Church members have been passing out food almost every Monday starting at 4 p.m., except for last week. (Because the Fourth of July fell on a Monday this month, the church gave food away on Wednesday instead.) And the need is great in the Hilltop neighborhood, which has pockets of areas where the poverty rate is higher than the city's 26.1 percent.

"We are giving away about 500 sandwiches in less than one hour. It's gone in maybe 35 minutes," said Andino, who collects food from different stores, including from different Wawa and Entenmann's locations.

"My satisfaction is seeing the people feel happy, feeling good about themselves, feeling that somebody still cares," he said.

Demetrius Loat, who happened to be walking on North Broom Street last week, noticed the sign advertising the free food and asked to make sure.

He left with a large bag of food, including hot dogs.

"Everybody needs a helping hand," Loat said. "Just like me. Look I got hot dogs and a cake. And guess what my family is going to do? My family is going to eat really good tonight."

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.

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