When Angela Kretschmar was the secretary for New Seasons Church in Spring Valley several years ago, she came face to face with the hunger needs of that community. One day a family came to the church and asked for food from the church’s “Crisis Closet.” That was when the door to Kretschmar’s heart opened wide.
The church started the food pantry, which led Kretschmar to trying to meet the other needs that the community presented, such as food and nutrition resources, hot meals, and reading programs.
When Angela Kretschmar was the secretary for New Seasons Church in Spring Valley several years ago, she came face to face with the hunger needs of that community. One day a family came to the church and asked for food from the church’s “Crisis Closet.” That was when the door to Kretschmar’s heart opened wide.
The church started the food pantry, which led Kretschmar to trying to meet the other needs that the community presented, such as food and nutrition resources, hot meals, and reading programs.
“I decided it was time to develop a network of available resources to help community members who were experiencing food insecurity,” she said.
In 2009, Heaven’s Windows was formed at the church.
“It was from that location prompted by the needs of a crime-riddled, and low-come community our services expanded,” Kretschmar explained.
Heaven’s Windows began providing more opportunities for networking. Throughout the years, Kretschmar has changed the image of the agency from being a food pantry to being a resources hot spot, a place where the greater San Diego community can go to obtain resources to improve their lives.
Kretschmar admits she has never gone hungry.
“I have never had to go to a food pantry for food,” she said. ”But I understand that this situation of needing help with the basic necessities of life can happen at any time to anyone. If it were to happen to me, or a member of my family or friends, I want them to be treated with respect, empathy and compassion. There is nothing better than knowing that someone will show my love one kindness when they need it.”
As an outreach ministry of New Seasons Church, Heaven’s Windows continues to be a vital link between the people and the resources and food they need. As the director of Church Community Relations, Kretschmar creates and coordinates the programs. And that is a lot.
“We provide assistance and aid families, homeless individuals, and children with summer lunches and after school snacks, child literacy program, CalFresh (food stamps) application assistance, supplemental food packages, hot meals delivered to homebound seniors and disabled persons, congregate hot meals served, community free food distribution site, host site for senior job training program, provides host site for federal food distribution to seniors, and free community events,” Kretschmar said.
The non-profit serves all of San Diego County, with some clients as far north as Escondido and others as far east as Campo.
In 2015, 13,519 households were given food and there were 2,432 deliveries of meals cooked by Kitchens for Good. The Child Nutrition Program served up 81,774 meals.
The Food Pantry and Clothes Closet are both open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A Community Food Distribution takes place outside once a month on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
The Child Adult Care Food Program/At Risk Sites (CACFP) meals and snacks give a nutritional boost to children, including teenagers through age 18, in eligible afterschool programs in lower income areas in every state.
“When school is out and parents are still at work, children need a safe place to be with their friends, with structured activities, supportive adults, and good nutrition. At Risk sites provide educational or enrichment activities in an organized, structured, and supervised environment after the end of the school day, on weekends, or on holidays during the school year,” Kretschmar said.
There was a need to address the literacy shortfall of at-risk children. The Windows of Opportunity Reading Club was developed for children during the after school snack period.
Heaven’s Window provides inspiring literacy activities, support, and new, high-quality books to children from low-income families and to other children who are at risk of growing up with low literacy skills.
The biggest challenge for Heaven’s Windows is sustainable funding for facility and transportation costs. To move this amount of products, we lease warehouse space for storage and workspace.
“We are in desperate need of a box truck,” she said.
The biggest joy, of course, is serving the community.
“I get to watch my workers and volunteers experience a journey of living outside their comfort zone by learning to give, give, give and love it,” Kretschmar said.
For more information, go to www.heavenswindows.org or call 877-595-6059.
