Tag Archive for: community stories

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Community Stories: Justin

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 Justin.

Justin serves on average 115+ meals every Thursday at Justin City Park. This site is one of our newest sites and currently our only site in the Denton area. Those we serve come broken and afraid of what others will think of them. Relationships are being made with the love of Christ, and we are able to be good witnesses, a listening ear and help them through their brokenness.

 

Daniel and Brandy

Daniel and Brandy married a year ago in November. Their past has been full of addictions and abuse and they decided together they needed to move. Where to move was the question they faced. They knew they  had to get out of the devastating situation they were currently in to be able to pursue Christ again.

Through prayer the Lord told them to move to Texas. They obeyed and ended up in Justin, Texas just outside of Fort Worth. They found a house to build a stable home for their three children.

Daniel was at the library one Thursday night studying for his seminary classes. Brandon, the Feed the Need Justin Site Coordinator, walked into the library, approached Daniel and offered him food. Brandon shared about Feed the Need Missions with Daniel as they walked across the field to our new site. Little did Brandon know Brandy, Daniel’s wife, was at home recovering from a hernia surgery. When Daniel brought dinner home for the family Brandy asked, “who did this for us?” Now their family attends our site faithfully and serves their community. Daniel has even shared his testimony at the site.

“Feed the Need Missions has started filling that void. You know, the void you have when you’re trying to get your life back on track and not sure where to turn. We needed loving guidance and good friends in Justin,” Daniel said.

Brandy added, “Obviously this is divine intervention. We both had fallen away. The closer we focus on Christ the closer we come together as a couple. We are so thankful for you guys and the support you have given us. We used to be Sunday morning Christians and lived a double-faced life. We were both drinking heavy and I am a recovering drug addict, and to know we can come to a place to serve and allow healing to take place brings joy to our hearts.”

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 Daniel and Brandy 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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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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Community Stories: Giddings

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 Giddings.

GIDDINGS serves on average 150+ meals every Sunday at the Giddings Food Pantry. There is so much brokenness within families and people in the community. We have been able to take the time to listen, build trust, and teach about forgiveness. This has allowed the community to be able to grow healthy relationships.

KATHI

Kathi serves at our Giddings location. Being in a wheel chair and not able to serve at most places, she found herself overjoyed to be able to serve.

Kathi was adopted to a loving Italian family at a young age. She was taught how to cook by her adoptive father who she dearly adored. “I wasn’t always treated the best as a child and I became bitter as I got older. I needed something more positive in my life.”

Previously coming from a church that didn’t serve the community other than trying to get people signed up for their beliefs, Kathi realized that “it’s not about brownie points or doing good things.” She now attends a church that cares for and accepts people for who they are. It is through her new church where she heard about Feed the Need Missions.

“I needed a place I could serve around positive people. I sit in my wheelchair, serve the community and share a smile. Being here brings a glow to me and warms my heart. I try to treat people the way I want to be treated. When I’m in a bad mood I just remember those that have it worse than I do. This place has helped me realize I am blessed and not to feel sorry for myself.”

Kathi came wanting community and a place she could get involved. And she has now found a place where she can serve. “You guys even lower one of the tables for me so I can serve. You don’t have to do, but you choose to, that’s Christ love,” she said.

THE GARCIA FAMILY

The Garcia Family has been serving at our Giddings location for two years. They live on the outskirts of Giddings in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. Adrianna (mom) and Jose (dad) have four children: Pablo, Adrianna, Angela and Jose. They attend a local Catholic church in Giddings.

Feed the Need Missions started out serving the family. Then after a few weeks the kids would serve while mom observed. A few months passed and Mrs. Garcia started serving with her children, and now Mr. Garcia comes to grill.

Angela (9 years old) said, “I like to come for the people. And the burger too, but I like to serve.” Mrs. Garcia takes the leftover food and gives it out to their community. She gives so much to those in her community while they struggle themselves. Mrs. Garcia has also opened her home to several of the volunteers for many occasions, even despite the language barrier.

 

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 Kathi and The Garcia Family 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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Community Stories: Bastrop North

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 Bastrop North.

BASTROP NORTH serves on average 180+ meals every Sunday at the Bastrop Housing Authority. There used to be many fights and drug-related incidents in the area, and police officials were called on a regular basis. Since we have started serving here, we have seen the community come together and people are finding hope and seeing positive changes in the area.

 

EUNICE

Eunice has been serving with Feed the Need Missions for four years. She started coming to Feed the Need Bastrop North when the site first started. She lives right down the street from our site and was interested in what was going on down her street every week. She came for a burger about two months after we started the site.

Eunice lives with her daughter in the Housing Authority of Bastrop. She has many medical difficulties and on a fixed income. Her and her daughter moved to Texas 17 years ago and her daughter was helping take care of her, until her daughter became sick. Now Eunice is her caregiver.

Now that Feed the Need is not even a half block away from their residence, Eunice is able to take food back to her daughter where they sit and eat together. Eunice said “Now we can actually sit together and have a meal that I don’t have to cook up and clean up. We can actually sit and talk and enjoy each other’s company.”

“I have an opportunity to come into the community to do a positive thing. I can now serve those in need too. I sit at home a lot of times with nothing to do. Getting out has helped me mentally and physically,” she said with a smile and holding her heart.

Eunice is now serving on the line with us, and is a prayer warrior for those that come and need prayer. Eunice is getting involved in the lives of those in her community through a burger. She said, “Feed the Need Missions is my family now. I have lost my mother and all of my siblings. This has helped me stay positive and know that people care and bring hope. I can share that hope with others. You’re all a blessing.”

 

GAYLA

“My name is Gayla and I live in Bastrop. I have attended several of the Feed the Need sites, but I now live closer to the Bastrop North site.”

Gayla lost her husband a few months after she started attending. She was having a hard time adjusting to this huge change, and some of our volunteers noticed. A few of the ladies from Feed the Need Missions reached out to her, and several came together to make the meal for the memorial service, while others helped pack her house for a fresh start. “You were all I had except for a few of my children. I had nowhere to turn and you have been there for me through everything,” she said.

“Now I come so I don’t have to cook, but to also see everyone. I have hope again and my relationship with God is growing. It takes dedicated and true people to come out here every week and serve,” she included.

 

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 Eunice and Gayla 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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Community Stories: Smithville

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 Smithville.

SMITHVILLE serves on average 140+ meals every Sunday at The Neighbor Place at Hart’s Chapel. Because of the division of races, we have come together to unite the body and those we serve. Unity is bringing people together to be able to live safely and to share a meal with neighbors.

 

PHILIP

Philip and his three boys have been attending Feed the Need Smithville for two years. Philip is a quiet single dad who keeps to himself. He works for minimum wage and strives to make ends meet, but life happens and sometimes providing food for his boys means going to several of Feed the Need sites in a week. With pain in his eyes and a slight smile on his face he said “it’s a real blessing. I don’t know what I would do if we didn’t eat at at least two of your locations weekly.”

Having to work full time and care for three children is exhausting. His oldest son is autistic, but Philip still finds the time to attend school events and to help his children with school work. Philip finds his strength in the Lord.

The family would drive by our Smithville site every Thursday, and for a month or two Philip would watch out his van window to try and figure out was happening in his small community. He finally set his pride to the side and stopped one evening to get a hot meal. He asked why we were doing this and we told him to love on people, to give back to the community and to share the gospel. Philip knew he was safe and in the right place.

To know the impact that Feed the Need Missions is making in his life is powerful. Philip and his boys are able to go to other sites when pennies are tight to receive what the need. They now stay for bible study and his kids participate by reading bible verses and praying for Feed the Need. Their lives are being changed, all because of a burger!

“There are people out there that want to help. That care enough to do something like this. It’s a good thing. And a blessing. If I had extra money I would give back. I would want to start a site like this or a soup kitchen in Smithville. You guys have inspired me.”

 

TYRONE

Tyrone has been attending Feed the Need Missions for three years. It brings joy to our hearts to see people, like Tyrone, keep coming back for food every week. When he doesn’t come we always ask him the next time we see him where he was and his response is, “with all these people out here you still think of me and remember me?”

Tyrone was born in Bastrop and moved around in his teen and college-aged years and is now currently back in Smithville. He’s on disability for many health reasons and is living paycheck to paycheck. “The food here helps me get fed for a day out of the week. I don’t have to worry about that day.”

Sitting down and listening to his childhood and struggling questions about if there is there a God, Tyrone is growing and finding peace and unity in his neighborhood. “It’s never been this quiet,” he mentioned. “I come here to enjoy fellowship where I am cared about.”

Building relationships is part of our mission, and Tyrone is experiencing the mission Christ told us to do.

 

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 Philip and Tyrone 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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Community Stories: Bastrop South

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 oldest location, Bastrop South.

BASTROP SOUTH serves on average 240+ meals every Monday at Primera Baptist Church. We also serve alongside of Hope House, which is an addiction program for women. This site serves a lot of homeless people and addicts. Sharing the love of Christ has helped many that attend get through tough times.

 

TINA

Tina was searching for more. She struggled with alcohol addiction and was at a very low time in her life. She knew she wanted to be involved in ministry to some capacity, but wasn’t sure how to get there because of her alcoholism. While searching for this “more” she found herself drinking more and more and feeling sorry for herself, she knew she was being disobedient to Christ.

Tina made a phone call to Hope House, reaching out for help. She completed their program in six months, and during her time at Hope House she came to serve with Feed the Need Missions. “Serving in the community helped me because it’s a place that I learned how to serve even when serving was hard. I use to be scared to talk about Jesus and now I feel more comfortable sharing the gospel with people. I didn’t feel adequate enough. Drinking messes with your head and doesn’t allow you to do the things you want to do.”

Tina would serve on the line at Feed the Need and was very quiet and shy. She was angry about her situation and embarrassed to be there. She was worried about what others around her would think. Then she realized she wasn’t the only one that felt the way she was. She said, “it’s a great place to come and get out of yourself to be able to love on others. It’s also given me the opportunity to have my kids come down and serve and learn more about Jesus. He can see what others are going through.” Tina’s son is 9 years old.

Through Tina’s struggles she finds peace serving others. It brings healing to her and it’s been helping her stay sober. “People struggle in life. But my struggle isn’t any different than anyone else’s. When I serve I’m reminded I’m not alone and I can serve at a place that allows me to be there.”

 

BRENDA

“I have volunteered for different ministries and food pantries throughout my life. I actually gave up on serving because of the way I was treated. I was a little skeptical about coming to Feed the Need Missions, but I came and you guys are so loving and treat everyone the way you would want to be treated. I come to be served and to serve,” said Brenda from our Bastrop South location.

Brenda can relate to a lot of those who we serve because of the struggles that she endured in her upbringing and the path she chose to head down. She recently graduated from Hope House, a women’s program for addiction. “I’ve made bad choices in my life. But Feed the Need is a good choice. This is a place of healing. And to be mistered to and to minister to others.”

 

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 Tina and Brenda 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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