RIO GRANDE CITY – The singing barber of Rio Grande City has a successful business that has taken him around the world. He decided to use his success to help feed his neighbors.

Alberto Escobedo started with two passions – being a barber and singing.

“I used to be at a very small salon that belonged to my mother, Elvia, Elvia’s Beauty Shop and we were able to build a newer and bigger place,” he said.

He now owns his own shop, Esco Spa and Salon, with a very modern look to it.

“The industry has been very good to me and that’s one of the reasons that I felt that I wanted to give back,” Escobedo said.

And he is giving back in a big way. Behind his shop is Casa de Esperanza which he opened more than a year ago.

Every day he provides food for about 80 people. He gets no state or federal funding but he is part of the Food Bank of Laredo, which also helped him get contracts with Wal-Mart and H-E-B.

“We have to start at 5:30 to be able to pick up the bread out of H-E-B and then we picked up the bread from Wal-Mart at 7:30 and we come and bag it,” Escobedo explained.

He can only afford one full-time employee – his cook. But he does have some faithful volunteers.

Blanca Howard and her daughter, Maria Gutierrez, are among the volunteers.

“I’m happy too. I’m happy helping other people in need. Helping Albert because he needed a lot of help,” Gutierrez said.

“We have a no questions policy. Anybody’s that’s hungry can come and eat for free,” he said.

R.C. Salinas is a former educator who lives in Rio Grande City.

“To me, it’s a blessing to see that a person that’s a successful businessman and a very good Christian in setting this example to the rest of us,” he said.

Escobedo said his wife and his two children are among his biggest supporters.

The successful businessman will continue doing what he enjoys – being a barber, singing and giving back.

You can catch Con Mi Gente segments Tuesdays and Thursdays on CHANNEL 5 NEWS THIS MORNING and CHANNEL 5 NEWS at 5.