Our Mission Is To Treat Clients With Dignity

Lori Varela with co-worker Jonathan Vallery

For almost 22 years, Lori Varela has been committed to serving Galveston’s homeless at CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. Since 1986, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread has provided two hot meals, much-needed medical assistance, access to psychological services, clothes and hygiene products.

While the program services have remained consistent, the needs of the clients being served vary day-to-day. “Every day is a new day,” Varela said. One important need the staff assists with is helping clients obtain critical documentation such as birth certificates, social security cards, IDs, and paperwork for veteran benefits, if they are eligible.

A native of Galveston, Varela says the mission of CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread speaks to her. “Our mission is to treat our clients with dignity and respect, as we would want to be treated.”

And the relationships with clients don’t end when a client finds stability. “I have a client from many years ago who still calls me once a month to update me on herself and her mom,” Varela said. “Both were clients here at Our Daily Bread for years. She was very young and had a learning disability. She was on drugs and had been pregnant twice. She is now clean and sober.”

For Varela, stories like these are the best part of working at CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. “Knowing that I’ve helped someone feel human, and doing good for others feels good.”