Love Thy Neighbor Proves Faith is More Than Words
- Beth Marie Cantu Ensign
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
(This article was written by Beth Marie Cantu Ensign and was featured in the February 2026 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)
Over and over again, Jacob Garcia encountered the same realities facing seniors in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). Fixed incomes. Declining health. Homes in disrepair. Perhaps most painfully, isolation.
“I worked as a life insurance agent. We would go into senior homes, talk to them firsthand, and we’d see the social isolation problems, the living conditions, the lack of transportation. There were just a lot of needs that weren’t being met on a daily basis,” Garcia recalls.
Those firsthand experiences lent themselves to the creation of Love Thy Neighbor, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which focuses on bettering the lives of a vulnerable generation: senior citizens. Guided by his Christian faith and years of service through organizations like Boy Scouts and earlier community initiatives, Jacob Garcia, the president and co-founder of Love Thy Neighbor, helped to shape the organization’s mission of restoring dignity to those who need it most.
Love Thy Neighbor, once a simple product of passion now operates as a ministry with structured programs and outreach, proving what Garcia says: “Faith is more than words.” And that philosophy shapes how the organization operates on every level.
“We don’t want to just be a resource center. We don’t want to just be a phone number,” Garcia says. “We want to be the help. We want to be the ones that get called. We want to be boots on the ground, hands in the dirt, putting the hand to the plow, and actually doing the work.”
The mindset of faith expressed through action became the foundation for how Love Thy Neighbor translated belief into tangible service, notably through the organization’s Restore, Renew, Rebuild program. Though currently paused, the program remains a key part of the group’s long-term vision.
As Love Thy Neighbor prepares to relaunch Restore, Renew, Rebuild in phases, the initial focus will be cleanup and basic interior and exterior restoration efforts that improve safety and dignity while remaining financially sustainable.
Love Thy Neighbor’s mission does not just serve senior citizens with a helping hand at home, but also companionship and financial support.
“Loneliness is a massive issue for seniors,” Garcia says. “You can help with physical needs, but if there’s no connection, something is missing. And we want [senior citizens] to know, ‘You’re still part of the community. You matter. We see you.’”
Beyond physical needs, Love Thy Neighbor prioritizes emotional and spiritual care through programs like Hearts & Hands Fellowship. Through crafts, prayer, and conversation, seniors are given space to be heard.
Programs like Adopt-A-Neighbor help to provide consistent, one-on-one connections that benefit both seniors and volunteers.
“We’re seeing that fellowship is just as important as physical assistance,” Garcia states.
As Love Thy Neighbor continues to grow, Garcia emphasizes that community support makes the mission possible. One of the organization’s most pressing needs is a permanent meeting space– somewhere to bring volunteers together, strengthen partnerships, and turn faith into action more efficiently. Additionally, assistance through volunteering, donations, or partnerships can make all the difference in the life of a local senior citizen.
“Small acts of generosity go a long way,” Garcia says. “Tools, supplies, gas money. It all translates into meaningful change.”
Ultimately Garcia hopes Love Thy Neighbor helps rewrite the narrative on how the RGV cares for its aging population.
“Our hope is that Love Thy Neighbor plays a role in shaping a stronger, more compassionate Rio Grande Valley,” he says. “One where our seniors are honored, respected, and not forgotten.”
If you’re interested in getting involved, reach out to Love Thy Neighbor at info@Ltntexas.org. You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook.
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