HOUSTON (KTRK) -- After retiring from a 35-year career as a Houston fire captain, Glenn Gonzales went to work as a volunteer at St. Monica's Catholic Church.
While making home visits in the Acres Homes community, he had a vision.
"I saw a lot of our families who were sleeping on the floor who had no food in their pantry, no light in their home, so God put it in my heart that something needs to change here," Gonzales said.
For the past 20 years, they have kept their pantry up and running. But demand keeps growing as new families come in each week, like Navy veteran Glenda Brown, who is now looking for work.
"It's kind of hard. I needed some food so I came here and everybody here has been really nice," Brown said.
Now they have a nice new building that will allow them to double the families they reach and offer not only food, but GED services, job training, and financial help. Gonzales' vision has come to life.
The Houston Food Bank says these community partnerships are key to their mission.
"We are in a pretty good warehousing situation, but we really do rely on our partners to distribute food to areas that they need the food in," said Alfredo Flores with the Houston Food Bank.
The doors officially opened at Saturday's ribbon cutting, but volunteers say their work isn't done.
"Service work is my life. Yes it is," said Gonzales. "I love helping people and God has given me the strength and will and ability to do it, and I will do it until he calls me home."
And that's Houston strong.