Every community has it’s own unique culture and that is definitely the case here in the Lone Star State! In Texas, burgers and backyard games are one of our favorite past times. For many involved in Feed the Need Missions, the thought of combining a cookout competition with a little life change makes for a good recipe. This event was a celebration of these two things coming together for a purpose!

The Texas Burger Bash is a one-day cook-off held each year in La Grange TX. The founders of the TBB are made up of a very dedicated group of friends. Their vision is to not only create a family friendly event, but to raise resources and awareness that benefits those that serve their community. All it took is a little vision, a lot of commitment and a spark that ignited the flames of this event.

 

The day started as all great gatherings should. A gathering and a prayer… “Lord let the efforts offered up here today bring life change!”  was the prayer the morning of the event. Specifically we prayed for 8-12 teams competing, 200 plus people actively showing up and participating, resources raised and people to walk away knowing that their efforts had an impact. Well, He answered that and then some! We had 11 registered teams, over 300 people came out, received almost $2000 in active donations, and after the event we noticed a substantial increase the next Monday of people coming out to the Feed the Need Missions site in La Grange.

 

This is just the beginning for this event! A special thanks to all those involved in making this happen. A shout out to The City of La Grange, Team Gonzo Cornhole, D-Poe Cattle Co., 979 Trucking Inc., Scar and Sons and of course the 4 friends that helped make this happen. From humble beginnings often comes eternal impact and that clearly happened at this years Texas Burger Bash. Consider this your invitation to next years festivities help at the end of April 2024. Visit texasburgerbash.com to see some of the highlights.

 

When I think back to some the most challenging years of my life I can easily say the years of having small children in tow stands out! I don’t know how you feel, but I can remember the pendulum of emotions welling up even now. One moment feeling the deepest sense of gratitude toward the Lord for these little gifts… SWING! I am a complete failure after realizing what I just feed them for dinner. SWING! My heart melts at the belly laugh from a little mini-me and the reverberation in my soul of what Jesus must feel every time I laugh with Him. SWING! How can He even trust me with these little babes when I can’t remember to take the trash out the night before it gets picked up?

What I do know is that a community of people can help us see what we cannot, feel what we are meant to feel, follow who we are suppose to follow. In fact a community of people that takes time to elevate one another toward the One that defines support is where we need to be. MOPS meets that for many young moms in the Bastrop community. These women take time to focus on each other and the kids they are raising like very few in the world do. This past November MOPS took it upon themselves to go beyond what seemed feasible and choose to serve “the least of these”. They collectively participated in our Gobble Kit program and together supplied 43 kits and fed 258 people that would have not had a Thanksgiving meal.

This past week Feed the Need Missions was provided a small chance to give back and say THANK YOU! At MOPS we witnessed joy and compassion. Intention and Hope. Faith in action and a modeling of true love! I doubted wether any mom would even eat a burger at 10am in the morning. But…. a hot meal (they didn’t have to prepare), and a place for Jesus-centered fellowship reminded me of the patients he showed me as a young parent. If you want or need community consider this my invitation to be loved as a family through MOPS or love a family in need through Feed the need Missions. Either way, you will find Jesus here!

Written by Sean Tangen

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.

What is Giving Tuesday? 

In the coming days, you will likely see social media and email inbox flooded with requests to give for Giving Tuesday. But what exactly is it?

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement designed to empower people to do what they can to improve the world. Situated just after frenzied Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, the initiative calls on the community to pause, to consider others, and to do something to support others and important causes. 
Participation also includes many activities, including:
    • Doing a kind deed for neighbors
    • Volunteering or sharing talents 
    • Giving your voice to a cause that matters to you
    • Donating to a local fundraiser, community drive or coordinated event
With so many worthy nonprofit organizations and activities from which to choose, how do you decide which cause to support? Read on for a few suggestions from our Feed the Need Missions team. 

How to Choose the Nonprofit to Support?

Give to support your community’s needs. One of the most invigorating experiences as a donor or volunteer is to actually see your donation in action— to see change happening and know you were able to support it.

Consider the problems that weigh heavily on your own community. Is it poverty? Homelessness? Hunger? Then seek out organizations that are working to solve these problems. If you can find one that is functioning where you live, or has a desire to expand to your area, even better!  Most organizations provide an overview of their
Mission Statement on their websites. 

Give according to your personal values. When you look for your cause, be selective about not only what your organization does, but how.

Investigate their methods and their practices. Read their blog and check out their social media sites. These should give you a pretty full picture of what they view as most important. Then consider your own personal values, and make sure your preferred organization matches up. Sharing values with the organizations you support means you can feel good about partnering with them. 

How to Partner with Feed the Need Missions on Giving Tuesday

This GivingTuesday, we hope you’ll consider Feed the Need Missions as you make your selection. Every week, we work hard to meet physical and spiritual needs in communities across rural Texas. At our site locations, we provide free weekly dinners open to anyone, as well as spiritual encouragement and prayer support. We also take hope on the road though our disaster relief efforts nationwide. 

Take a few moments to view a testimony from one of our donors here. Here you’ll learn a little more about our values as an organization. If you feel like we are a good fit for you, there are several ways you can give: 

  1. Simply click here to make a donation online. 
    We are so thankful for our generous donors. You can give this one time or even select a monthly amount for ongoing support.

  2. Sign up for AmazonSmile. Many of the gifts you are planning to purchase this holiday season qualify for AmazonSmile. Simply go to smile.amazon.com, select Feed the Need Missions as your default organization, and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to us.
  1. Check with your employer to see if they match donations. This can double or even triple the financial donations or even volunteer hours you generously give to Feed the Need Missions! Search here to see if this is something your employer offers or check with your HR department and ask about matching employee donations.
  1. Give through other revenues. Take a look at our Ways to Give page to learn more about giving to Feed the Need Missions through stocks, planned giving, and more. And feel free to contact us if you have any questions about these various ways to make a difference in our communities.

What an incredible night we had for The Beyond Gala. We are “Beyond Thankful” for those who gave, participated, prayed and were involved. In a short time of 1 1/2 hours we raised $80,000. With this being our first virtual Gala we are incredibly thankful. Feed the Need Missions has been feeding people physically and spiritually for ten years! We continue to see God grow the ministry and those we serve. Here are a few quotes from people over the last 10 years:

“I never thought Bastrop would have something like this., I came back to Bastrop with the clothes on my back and my two dogs. You guys helped me in many ways. It doesn’t matter your race, what you look like, or who you are you still feed them.” – Joe

“We are a large family. My husband works full time and I take care of the children. Sometimes it’s hard to feed seven people.” – Vasquez Family

“I am gratefully thankful for Feed the Need Missions in helping me see who I really am, learning more about Jesus, and the transformation that has happened in my life. Thank you for accepting me into the family.” – Brandy

We still need your help to continue feeding people physically and spiritually. Our goal for next year is to continue reaching people with the gospel, starting new sites, and putting together a marketing team to help us grow. Will you help us finish raising our goal of $150,000? People like Joe, The Vasquez Family and Brandy need physical and spiritual feeding. Help us raise $70,000 to meet our goal.

Here’s how you can help:

– Donate online HERE
– Mail a check: PO Box 1542 Bastrop, Texas 78602
– Pray for the ministry!

Thank you for an impactful 10 years of serving people physically and spiritually. We couldn’t do this without your help and the support from the communities.

Beyond gala

We are so excited to announce our Tickets are now on sale for The Beyond Gala.

This year event will be held Saturday, September 12, 2020 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. We invite you to join us for a fun MASKerade party celebrating our 10 years of ministry. Celebrate an evening of diamonds and masks, music from Cory Morrow, mystery prizes, and a delicious meal including a wine & cheese basket sent to your house!

Let’s party together virtually from the comfort of your own home, or even someone else’s home! COVID has given us an incredible opportunity to have a Gala like never before. Be a part of the change alongside of us as we continue growing and reaching more people for His Kingdom!

Full Table (8 meals) – $800 | Household (2 meals) – $250

To purchase tickets and for more information visit feedtheneed.org/gala

Thank you to those who came for the month of March to learn more about Feed the Need Missions during Open House month. Now let’s party! Join us to check out our new office, be a judge for the burger cook-off, enjoy face painting, a bounce house, and a live band in the evening. We’ll be serving a free burger dinner at 5:00 pm.

All you have to do is show up! If you would like to participate in judging, please purchase a $5.00 ticket to taste one sample from each contestant; judging will start at 5:00 pm. This is a fun family community event to celebrate together all that God is doing within Feed the Need Missions.

Come party with us. For more information please visit Open House Party

Community Gardens
1067 Highway 71 W
Bastrop, Texas 78602

Feed the Need Missions would like to invite you to our Open House events!

For the entire month of March every one of our sites will be open for you to come check out what God is doing in our communities. Find a site near you!

Folks of all ages are invited to come out and participate in a variety of ways. You can dive into one of our family friendly positions right away, or just come out and observe all the wonderful encouragement being shared in your community. This is an ideal time to see the ins and outs of a weekly site.

We’ve made this super simple for you! All you have to do is show up at one of our sites. Feel free to let one of the volunteers know you are there to check things out or just grab a burger and enjoy the community. AND mark your calendars for a fun Open House Party Saturday, March 28, 2020 at Community Gardens from 5pm-7pm click HERE.

Christmas time is here and, like every year, Feed the Need Missions will still be out there serving our communities even on a special holidays like Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This is a great opportunity for you and your family to come serve with us. Bring a few cookies and bless people this Christmas season.

We are asking you to join us to make cookies and bless those we serve during the Christmas season. Bring your cookies for the entire month of December to your local site meeting, and we will hand them out that evening. While you’re at it, why not stay and serve with us that day? What an incredible way to give back to your community this holiday season. We promise it will put a smile on your face and theirs.

Check out the time and location that’s closest to you and works with your schedule. We would love to see your friendly face delivering delicious cookies!

easter eggs

This Easter ALL OF our sites will be experiencing what the Resurrection Egg is all about through the Easter Story during Easter week. We are excited to share the gospel through eggs with those who are interested! Each site will have additional fun activities to participate in as well.

Easter is the most important holiday for Christians because it commemorates their belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth early in the first century A.D. We believe Jesus’ suffering and death were necessary to bring people back to God, and that he will return again one day. Secular Americans celebrate Easter with the Easter Bunny and egg hunts. Because eggs at Easter are familiar to children, resurrection egg kits are an easy way to explain the death and resurrection of Jesus. Each plastic egg contains an object that helps to tell a part of the story.

What a fun time for you and your family too. Take the time to read the Resurrection Story found in Matthew 21. If you are unfamiliar with the Resurrection Story there are so many resources online that you could find. You can even make your own Resurrection Eggs or purchase them online.

We also greatly appreciate your prayers this Easter! As we share about the Resurrection of Christ, we ask that you pray for those receiving and for lives to be changed for ever during this Easter Holiday. All of us at Feed the Need Missions hope you have a wonderful Easter!