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Thanksgiving Gobble Kits Impact Stories

2020 was a record year for the Feed the Need Missions Gobble Kit program.

Over the course of four Gobble Kit distribution days in November, we served Thanksgiving meal kits to eight Texas communities, with the help of more than 250 volunteers, made possible by financial support from more than 350 donors. We distributed a record 764 Gobble Kits, praying over every single guest. While the statistics are exciting because they show the growing breadth of our program, it is the personal experiences that show the depth and impact. Read on to hear a few touching stories from those involved in this year’s program. 

The Blessing of Service: Volunteer Testimonies 

We are beyond grateful for our incredible volunteers, many who began helping months before the actual Gobble Kit distribution. From sorting, organizing, promotion and logistics to praying, visiting, and sharing the Gospel—these people went above and beyond to feed people physically and spiritually. As you read their stories, you’ll find the common thread that as they blessed others, they were equally refreshed and blessed.


Jeanette from Bastrop South shared, “being able to sign people up and check them off the list made me feel so blessed. The fact that this program does so much for others, makes me so grateful. I thought it was wonderful and those who received were over joyed and so appreciative. It makes me feel joyful knowing that I was a part of this.”

Jennie from Stony Point told us, “Watching my husband experience joy as he serves the community has changed our marriage. It’s such a blessing. My husband has never really been a part of something like this. It has helped us grow together because it gets us outside of ourselves. You don’t see the need until you’re present. It’s been a huge blessing for me to witness those who experience receiving food and watching the growth of our volunteers.”

Jack from LBA said “It was a neat way to break in some of the folks that have just recently moved to the community by asking them if they were in need of a Gobble Kit. We have a lot of single parents that are trying to make ends meet and the thankfulness from them brought me to tears. Because of COVID and serving the Gobble Kits to the guests at their vehicle brought more opportunities to build the relationship and people were more vulnerable, especially those who couldn’t be with their family. The impact on being a family together is extremely emotional to the ones who couldn’t travel to see loved ones. We prayed together and cried together.” 

Teresa, who serves at multiple sites, was extremely impacted by the volunteers presence at each sites. “We all came together and helped each other out at the different sites. Many Site Coordinators and other lead teams worked together to help make the Gobble Kit program a success. It touched my heart seeing so many people being prayed for and the acceptance of our guests wanting prayer. I saw many faces that I haven’t seen before that are struggling and this turkey meal was enough to give them HOPE.”

Becca: A Guest Experience

Becca is a single mom from a local community who has been struggling financially. She’s new to the area and heard about Feed the Need Missions by looking online for free Thanksgiving dinners. “I was in need, and so were my kids. I have three kids and it’s hard right now to work because of COVID and my babies being home. I wanted to make Thanksgiving for them to do something that felt more “normal,” Becca shared.
She came to one of the local serving sites to sign up for a Gobble Kit. When she saw the line of over 150 cars in line before her, she felt sure she would not receive one. “To go home and have to tell my kids there would be no Thanksgiving was going to be so hard for me.” 
Thankfully because of the generous supporters and donations, she was able to receive a Thanksgiving meal for her family. “I can’t thank you enough. I have been praying to God to send people to help me, and He did.” Not only did she receive a meal but now Becca is serving and was given a list of some resources in the area that could give her more assistance. 



Feed the Need With Us

What a joy it is to be able to report such powerful experiences. Not only is the program growing each year, but it is growing people up in Jesus. Volunteers are experiencing life change and our guests are encountering the peace and provision of Jesus. If reading these stories has inspired you to get involved, we would love for you to become part of the Feed the Need Missions family. You can support us financially by making a donation, or serve at one of our eight site locations each week.

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MEET A VOLUNTEER: TONIE

Feed the Need Missions has brought Tonie and her family lots of joy. Being a mom of two little girls, one on the way, and married, her family is able to serve together. “We’ve been able to teach our girls about giving to others and also for them to not have a fear of talking and praying with people.” Tonie said.

Being involved in the community is important to Tonie, but what is most important is God and teaching her children to love others. “We are God’s children and we need to take care of each other mentally, physically and spiritually. Feed the Need Missions allows us to serve together and build relationships in the community. I love the simplicity of it.” she said.

Feed the Need Missions’ ministry is simply to feed people. We provide a hot meal on a weekly basis in communities across Texas. This weekly meal allows us to build long-lasting relationships and proclaim the love and message of Christ. Be a legacy like Tonie and get involved today!

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Impact Stories: Stony Point

From now until the end of the year we will be sharing stories from each of our sites across Texas. Every site has the same mission: to feed people physically and spiritually. We see God using our volunteers and those that come to grow and build relationships with those in Christ. Here are just a few of the stories from our sites this past year.

STONY POINTserves every Monday starting at 5:30pm at Stony Point Park located at 121 Stony Creek Drive, De Valle. TX 78617.

David

David is married to his lovely bride for 42 years and have two kids and thirteen grandkids, not to mention four great-grandchildren too. “A few years ago I started serving with Rebecca. I had to stop serving because I was not in a good spot in my own life. I struggled with who I was and I didn’t have the capacity to pour into others the way I needed too,” David said.

Currently things have changed in David’s life. He attended a training at his Church and decided he was ready to start serving again. “I really enjoy seeing the faces of those we serve and to share Gods word with them. I’m an act of service kind of person by nature and like to help people. I enjoy serving others,” he said.

“By serving I have been able to open up more and come out of my shell. I use to be a recluse person and it’s helped me do a full 180. It’s opened my eyes to learn about others and to share stories. It has also helped me open my eyes to the Holy Spirit and my walk with Christ,” David said.

Nat

“My wife heard about a school over here in Stony Point that was hiring. She came and drove around the area and saw you guys out here serving. She knew I have a servant heart and this would be something I would be interested in, that was one year ago,” Nat said.

Nat wrestled with his work schedule and being involved with his church. He had a hard time finding the time to serve with Feed the Need Missions. “You guys came to my church and did a training and I participated. I fell in love with the ministry. This is God’s work,” he said. A week or so after the training his relative, Charlie, who serves at the Bastrop location, told Nat he was needed in Stony Point. Soon after Nat came to the site.

“I’m plugged in now. I come here and do Table Talk with our guests. I translate it to them in Spanish to help them understand the gospel. It feels great to help out, and share God’s love, and it’s also helping me grow,” he said with a big smile.

 

When you give to support our communities, people’s hearts and lives are being changed.

With your help, Feed the Need Missions will continue to provide a hot meal and share the love and message of Christ to those in our communities each week.

Can you help Feed the Need Missions continue serving each week by making a generous contribution of $25, $50, or $100 today? Without your generosity, people like David and Nat, might not get to hear about the love of the gospel and what it truly means to have people who love and support you where you are.

Don’t delay, give now and make a difference in your community today.


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Site Stories: Stony Point

From now until the end of the year we will be sharing stories from each of our sites across Texas. Every site has the same mission: to feed people physically and spiritually. We see God using our volunteers and those that come to grow and build relationships with those in Christ. Here are just a few of the stories from our sites this past year.

Stony Point serves every Sunday starting at 5:30pm at Stony Point Park located at 121 Stony Creek Drive, Stony Point, TX 786017

Julia

Julia has been living in Stony Point for 48 years. She has a daughter, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She spends a lot of time taking care of her grandchildren so her daughter can work.

Julia heard about Feed the Need Missions from Gilbert, a volunteer at our Stony Point site. Julia was driving by and Gilbert stopped her to give her some food. At first, Julia was a little skeptical about staying for the fellowship so she would receive her meal and leave. Now, six months later Julia stays to enjoy her meal at the site and stays after for Table Talk.

“Feed the Need Missions has been a blessing to me. I look forward to Monday nights. Every time I go everyone is so nice. I like that we pray and study the Bible together. Seeing you guys give food to everyone and seeing the smiles on the kids faces makes my heart happy,” Julia said.

Marty

“After reaching a point in my life where my health was so bad and I received a diagnosis of a rare respiratory disorder, I basically didn’t expect to be here on earth. After several years in a wheelchair, I decided to fight against everything holding me down,” Marty said.

Marty has been serving at the Stony Point site for almost a year. He loves what Feed The Need Missions is doing. It has helped him with his recovery and helped him get involved in outreach again through a positive Christ centered environment. “My purpose here is to let each person know that no matter what has been done, no matter what is currently going on, or what will occur in the future, each of us has been extended grace and forgiveness from Christ. Feed the Need Missions has provided outreach for me to share true love and grace. I am trying to be a fisher of men,” Marty said.

DONATE NOW

When you give to support our communities, people’s hearts and lives are being changed. With your help, Feed the Need Missions will continue to provide a hot meal and share the love and message of Christ to those in our communities each week.

Can you help Feed the Need Missions continue serving each week by making a generous contribution of $25, $50, or $100 today? Without your generosity, people like John and Peggy, might not get to hear about the love of the gospel and what it truly means to have people who love and support you where you are.

Don’t delay, give now and make a difference in your community today.

 

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MEET A VOLUNTEER: ALMA

Alma is a single mom to Jacqueline, her 19 year old daughter from Stony Point. She got pregnant at the age of 22 and continues to raise her daughter on her own with the help of family. She was born in Mexico and came to Texas when she was just a year old.

In May of 2019 Feed the Need Missions will celebrate two years of serving the Stony Point community were Alma and Jacqueline reside. Alma joined us one evening for food and fellowship and three weeks later she began serving on the food line where she’s now the “line leader.” “Serving fills my heart with joy. I like seeing the people gather together,” Alma said.

Alma came to the site physically hungry, but also struggling with brokenness. Growing up in poverty and living with her parents and siblings, she was wanting to help her community but didn’t know how. “There’s a lot of crime here and kids running everywhere that are hungry,” she said. “All I wanted to do was help people, and now I can because you guys come and spend time with us when it seems like no one cares for our community.”

And then..

Just a few weeks after Alma began serving at the Stony Point site, her daddy passed away and she found herself depressed and not having anyone to talk too. “You guys were here for me,” she said. “I can come here and know that I am with people who care about me. You helped me through a tough time. Thanks for being there.”

Thank you Alma! Feed the Need Missions is proud to have you on our team.

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Community Stories: Stony Point

Every week until the end of the year we will be sharing stories from each of our six communities. Each of our communities serve anyone who stops by, but we have noticed that at each site similar stories start to pop up. We see God using our volunteers and those that come to grow and build relationships with those in Christ. Here are just a few of the stories from our location in Stony Point.

Stony Point serves on average 140+ meals every Monday at Stony Point Park. This area has been secluded by the county because of the high crime rate, but is now seeing the light in the darkness, literally and spiritually. The park now has lights, and is being mowed and cleaned up on a regular basis. Some areas are even getting new sewage put in. We have been able to bring people together and build relationships.

AC

Stony Point is a small area in Del Valle in the County of Bastrop. It’s an impoverished area with a lot of crime. AC has been a resident of Stony Point since 2005. He stumbled upon Feed the Need Missions by driving past the site a few times on his way home. Not knowing too many familiar faces and seeing “Free Burgers” on the side of our trailer, eventually gave AC the courage to stop by.

AC struggles with alcoholism and is trying to change his life, but has many negative influences. He said, “This is a positive place. A safe place. I can come get a burger and not have to worry about anything.”

“We see a lot of crime out here and it’s an encouragement to have you here. It’s a positive place to come and helps me become a positive person. One day one person gets killed and the next day it’s different. You never know what’s going to happen around here. People run Stony Point like there’s no law. They do what they want.”

Feed the Need Missions is a light in the darkness and allows a place for AC’s community to be safe and to hear the gospel. “Everyone needs Jesus, but it’s just hard when you’re in a dark place and live in crime,” he said. “You’re making it a better place.”

GILBERT

Gilbert and his wife have lived in Stony Point for many years. They both struggle with addiction and his wife recently graduated from Teen Challenge in San Antonio. She found friends at Feed the Need Missions she could confide in about her addiction to seek the help she needed to change her life.

Gilbert is building trust and relationships with a few men from Feed the Need Missions. We were the light in the darkness and now Jesus is the light in his darkness, and through building relationships Gilbert’s walk with Christ is becoming deeper.

His life is being changed. His addiction is being worked through and looks very successful.

 

DONATE NOW

This is the kind of difference you are making when you give to support our communities.  With your help, Feed the Need Missions will continue to provide a safe place people like AC and Gilbert can gather for a hot meal each week, a place where you see the love of Christ in action.

Can you help Feed the Need Missions continue serving each week by making a generous contribution of $25, $50, or $100 today? And if you give by the end of the year, thanks to a generous matching gift, your donation will be DOUBLED—up to $12,000—to make an even larger impact in the lives of so many people in our communities.

So don’t delay, give today so you can DOUBLE your gift and help even more people like Mike experience unconditional love.

 

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Thanksgiving Happenings

This year, Feed the Need Missions is partnering with individuals, churches and local businesses to help provide 600 Thanksgiving meals to families in our communities. Each boxed meals will include a frozen turkey and sides that families can prepare at home on Thanksgiving Day, and we need your help to make it a success!

If you would like to donate, please drop off the following non-perishable food items to any of our drop off locations listed here. Be sure to note the food donations are for “Feed the Need Thanksgiving Meals.”

  • Instant Mashed Potatoes
  • Canned Green Beans
  • Canned Corn
  • Instant Stuffing
  • Packets of Gravy
  • Canned Cranberry Sauce
  • Canned Sweet Potatoes
  • Nonperishable Dessert Kits (ex. cake mix with icing, brownies, cookie mix)

We also need financial donations for frozen turkeys as we will be purchasing these in bulk. Simply click here and write “frozen turkey” in the comments section of the donation form.

Download printable flyer HERE.

Donation Drop-off Locations:

  • Living Room Bookstore
  • Bastrop YMCA
  • Bastrop Christian Church
  • Bastrop Church of Christ
  • Bastrop First
  • Bastrop Christian Outreach Center
  • Good Sheperd Lutheran Church, Bastrop
  • Celebration
  • First Baptist Church, Giddings
  • Primera Baptist Church

Thanksgiving Boxed Dinner Giveaway Dates

If you or a family is in need of a Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway Box, please register at any of our Feed the Need locations. It is important that you register so we know how many meals are needed. Deadline for registration is November 6th. 

BASTROP:

Saturday, November 18, 2017 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Primera Baptist Church
301 Paul C Bell St. Bastrop, Texas 78602

SMITHVILLE:

Sunday, November 19, 2017 from 5:00-6:00 PM

Hearts Chapel
206 Prima St. Smithville, Texas 78957

GIDDINGS:

Sunday, November 19, 2017 from 5:00-6:00 PM

Giddings Food Pantry
190 N Harris Giddings, Texas 78942

STONY POINT:

Monday, November 20 from 5:30-6:30 PM

Stony Point Park
121 Stony Creek Dr. Del Valle, Texas 78617

 

 

If you are interested in volunteering at one of these locations for the giveaway please email Christy Beyer at christy.beyer@feedtheneed.org.

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Meet a Volunteer: Al

Al was born in a little town of south Texas where he was raised as a migrant worker. He moved to Bastrop, Texas at the age of 13 and graduated from Bastrop High School. He joined the Air Force right out of high school and served our country. When he completed his time he moved back to the area and married his wife, Debbie. Al retired from the Travis County police force after 22 years, and 2 1/2 years with the State of Texas. 

Al heard about Mission U-Too from a friend  who asked him to come and serve with him. It’s now been 2 years since Al has been serving. He went to the Bastrop North site and helped out with serving on the line and saw a really important need to reach out to folks. He said, “I had no idea what ‘Mission Youtube’ was or did. I fell in love with the needs to serve the community I was raised in.” For a while until Al became familiar with Mission U-Too’s name, he would call the ministry ‘Mission Youtube,’ as some still do. 

Al is currently serving at two sites. He’s a Site Coordinator at our Stony Point location and is currently filling in at our Bastrop North site. Al served our country well, and is now serving his community well.

Al was a bit optimistic about serving at the Stony Point site, but, unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy since he knew many of those who he serves in the capacity of a police officer. But because of the people’s change of heart in Stony Point, they are now building a trust with Al.

What stirs Al’s heart at the site is the look on some of the folks faces that come through the line. Especially the children and their excitement to know someone is cooking a hot meal for them. He mentioned, “Some of the ‘grown ups,’ the look of despair replaced by a smile, a handshake or a small prayer and being able to walk away with a little help without any questions is a beautiful sight. It’s a different atmosphere every week.”

“Mission U-Too has made me understand and realize how blessed I am. It has allowed me to share what little I have with a group of individuals that genuinely care about the community of Bastrop and Stony Point and to see the need to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Savior.” Al is continuing to learn what it means to spread the gospel and carrying out the Great Commission. Al share’s John 3:16 with those he serves “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We should never stop understanding that God gave His only begotten Son so we may have everlasting life.  We only give of our time for Mission U-Too…He gave His Son.

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New Site Location: Stony Point

We’re excited to announce the start of a new location at Stony Point in Del Valle, Texas! This has been a site we have desired to start for a number of years, as it is an area that’s impoverished and has great needs.

Stony Point is located on the border of Bastrop and Travis Counties and is a neighborhood in Del Valle, however it is a somewhat forgotten community with lots of poverty and several gangs who call this area home.

After lots of prayer and God leading the right people to use to cultivate relationships, the ground is fertile and the community is ready to receive us. The Mission U-Too Stony Point site officially started 4 weeks ago and has been growing ever since.

New Site Location: Stony Point | Mission U-Too

Gang members in their mid teens are even stopping by to get a hot meal. They enjoyed the meal so much they came through the line three times! They asked before leaving “are you really going to be here every Monday night?”

A local that runs and owns a little convenient store on the corner in Stony Point has said “we’ve been needing this for a number of years. I’ve tried helping people out but I can’t do it by myself.” He’s grateful that we are there to help his community. Even with the little resources this store has, the owner has a huge heart to help. Every week he gives Mission U-Too bags of ice to keep our drinks cold.

New Site Location: Stony Point | Mission U-Too

Steven, a young boy who serves at this new location, waits for our arrival on Monday evenings. He serves until feeding time is over and then will take food back to his family. If there are any leftovers more food is sent to his family and he shares it with his neighbors as well. Steven has found a place that he can make a difference in his community.

Another volunteer, Gabriel, started cutting the grass and helps keep the area cleaned up. The grass has been overgrown and the park hasn’t been taken care of. It’s great to see the community coming out and helping serve with Mission U-Too but also shows care and respect of their community.

Persistence and consistency are key to our sites. Serving each location the same day every week at the same time builds trust and grows relationships. Larry White, one of our volunteers, said, “It’s been a great blessing and has refreshed my spirit to be able to serve in Stony Point. People are so grateful there and are surprised that we have kept our promise to be there.”

We are so excited to now be serving hot meals to the people who call Stony Point home. Mission U-Too will continue using the body of Christ to come together to serve communities across the country.

Stony Point meets every Monday night. Click here for more information on this location and how you can help.

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