EQUIPPED TRAINING: STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS AT EVERY SITE

Leaders and volunteers from across our sites gathered for our Feed the Need Equipped Training. It was incredibly encouraging to see nearly 100% participation! Seeing so many people take time out of their weekend to come together, learn, and grow was a powerful reminder of the heart behind this mission.

The focus of this year’s training was not on site logistics or food, but relationships.

At Feed the Need, we say “The burger is just the tool” to bring people to the table, but relationships are what truly change lives. Every week, volunteers serve meals in communities across Bastrop County, but the heart of the mission goes far beyond the food. It’s about slowing down, listening to people’s stories, praying with them, and actively walking alongside them.

Throughout the training, we spent time walking through the roles that make each site function well—from Site Coordinators and Servers to Food Purchasers and Grill Teams. Volunteers worked together to identify who fills each role at their site and to discuss how each position can influence the team’s culture.

One of the most encouraging parts of the day was seeing several volunteers step forward to take on new responsibilities. As our sites continue to grow, it takes faithful believers who are willing to serve, guide others, and invest in relationships.

The training concluded with a time for application, where each site worked through four questions designed to strengthen teamwork and clarity around roles. These conversations began during the training, but their real purpose was to continue at each site as teams put them into practice week after week.

More than anything, this training served as a reminder of the calling we share as the Church. Through simple acts of service and intentional relationships, our volunteers are living out what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in their communities.

We are deeply grateful for every volunteer who gives their time, energy, and heart to serve others so faithfully. Whether through Feed the Need or in other ways within their communities, our hope is that believers continue stepping into that calling—loving people well, building relationships, and pointing others to Christ.