Poverello House founder passes away

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The man who founded the Poverello House decades ago has passed away.

Mike McGarvin had most recently been in the hospital in May and received treatment for respiratory issues while in the hospital's intensive care unit.

According to a spokesman for the organization, he died on Saturday at his home on the Poverello House campus.

He was best known to the community as 'Papa Mike' and got his start helping the homeless by serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches out of the back of his car.

Through the years, the Poverello House has grown and is now serving 1,600 hot meals a day every single day.

McGarvin leaves behind his wife, daughter and grandson. Funeral plans have not yet been determined.