Tag Archive for: community

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THE LAUNCH OF UNIT B: NURTURING COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMPASSION AND CONNECTION

In the heart of Feed the Need Missions lies a simple, profound truth: we are called to serve not just with meals but with open hearts, reflecting the boundless love of Christ in every action.

It is with great excitement and deep commitment to this calling that we introduce our latest site trailer, Unit B, a significant step forward in our mission to serve communities both physically and spiritually.

This new trailer represents an evolution in our ability to connect with more individuals, providing not only nourishment but also a space for fellowship and spiritual growth.

A New Chapter in Service

Unit B is designed with a deeper purpose, aligning with our core mission to serve as a conduit for God’s love. Equipped to accommodate two grills and additional seating, this unit is not merely a response to a growing need for physical nourishment but a testament to our commitment to fostering genuine relationships.

The meals we serve are merely the bridge to a greater encounter—the opportunity to sit, share, and show the unconditional love that drives us. Unit B has been designed with dual functionality at its core.

This strategic versatility ensures that the trailer is not only capable of supporting the launch of new sites in the La Grange area but is also fully equipped to respond effectively to disaster situations across Central Texas and beyond.

This dual capability allows us to extend our reach and impact, ensuring that we can be present and provide essential support in times of need, further embodying the spirit of service and resilience that defines Feed the Need Missions.

A Community Effort
The realization of the B Unit was made possible through the collective heart and effort of the La Grange community. Their dedication to our mission demonstrated through their successful fundraising efforts, has not only funded the construction of this unit but also reinforced the power of community and shared purpose. As we prepare to deploy the B Unit to the La Grange site, we do so with immense gratitude for the support that has turned this vision into a reality.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the following donors for their generous contributions:

– John Burkland
– Second Chance Emporium
– FUMC First United Methodist Men-La Grange
– Tejas Camp & Retreat Center
– Henry and Cecilia Zoch
– Texas Burger Bash
– Shared Lutheran Ministry
– And all those whose contributions, big and small, have been invaluable to this project.

Each of you has played a crucial role in bringing the New La Grange Site Trailer from concept to reality; we are eternally grateful for that. Your generosity and community spirit embody the essence of what we aim to achieve at Feed the Need Missions.

At Feed the Need Missions, we understand that our calling transcends the act of feeding. Each meal serves as an invitation to a deeper dialogue, an opportunity to listen, share, and connect on a level that transcends material needs.

Our approach is grounded in the belief that true service involves stepping into the lives of those we serve, offering not just food but a listening ear, a word of encouragement, and a reflection of Christ’s love.

Jesus is the cornerstone of our mission, the ultimate example of service and love that we strive to emulate. The B Unit’s launch is a step forward in our journey to walk in His footsteps, to serve with humility and love that knows no bounds. We seek to embody the love of Christ in every interaction, fostering relationships that can lead to meaningful spiritual conversations and disciple-making.

As we gear up for the official launch of the B Unit on March 3rd, we invite our volunteers and supporters to join us in celebration. This event will not only be a thanksgiving for the incredible support we’ve received but also an opportunity to educate and empower our volunteers on how this new unit will enhance our service to the community.

I pray that we move forward with the conviction that our service can change lives by meeting physical needs and changing hearts and communities. We are excited to see how this new chapter will unfold as we continue to serve in the spirit of 1 John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.”

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Spreading Holiday Cheer

‘Tis the season of joy, love, and giving! At Feed the Need Missions, we are beyond grateful for the support and dedication of our incredible volunteers. As a small expression of our appreciation, we hosted a special Christmas party to celebrate our volunteers.

It was a joy to see the camaraderie that permeates our staff and volunteers. We decorated gingerbread houses, had a build your own burger bar, and played Christmas themed games that had us laughing until we cried. Our volunteers had the opportunity to share about how the mission has impacted them, and our staff had the opportunity to express our deep gratitude to all our volunteers who have helped us carry out our mission of feeding people physically and spiritually. We also had the opportunity to honor Mike and Lynn, who have faithfully served at our Bastrop South site for the last 10 years. After the Christmas party, we gathered in downtown Bastrop to participate in the Christmas parade.

As the year comes to a close, we wanted to ensure that our volunteers feel the love and appreciation they deserve. The Christmas party was just one small way to express our gratitude for the selfless gifts of their time and energy throughout the year.

Feed the Need Missions volunteers—We pray that the love of Christ, which is at the heart of Christmas, guides you throughout the coming year. We love you, and we are beyond thankful for everything you do.

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Impacting the Next Generation

So often, we wonder about the future of the next generation and, as a byproduct, our own impact. Will they have a positive influence on the world? Will they value society as past generations have? How will they pursue Jesus in their ever-changing lives? Can they live without their phones? As a father of two teens, I find myself pondering these questions and many more.

Recently, I had the privilege of firsthand learning about the desires and hopes of the next generation. During this year’s Gobble Kit season, the Student Ministry at River Valley Christian Fellowship decided to give back to their community and partner with Feed the Need Missions. River Valley was fully committed to supporting the Gobble Kit program, collecting 144 kits as a church. These kits represented not only 864 meals but also a desire for people to be fed both physically and spiritually.

In conversation with Jason, their youth pastor, a plan was hatched to invite the youth to pack and distribute the kits to families at our LBA Site. Without hesitation, the youth said YES!

I believe we have a responsibility to align the passions of the next generation with the heart of Jesus. If we do that early enough, we can help give kids a vision for others that impacts a lifetime! Proverbs 22:6 – Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.

The week before Thanksgiving became “Serve Week” for the River Valley students. Wednesday was our kickoff, and the youth group’s plan shifted. With over 100 students and leaders gathering, we talked about legacy. The question was asked, “What legacy do you want to inspire others toward?” Every student was tasked with repacking the Gobble Kits in a transportable way for distribution.

After repacking the bags, we paused to look at what the Bible says about serving others. Our missional theme verse challenges us to love with the fullness of Jesus. The beauty of asking kids to love others reminded me how fully, authentically, and innocently kids can care for others. They learned that their story matters and that each of them has one!

My 17-year-old daughter Shayla and her friend Ruby taught their classmates how to share their testimonies with others in 15 seconds. When you discover this can be done in words and action, confidence builds.

We broke out into small groups with a challenge: to share their stories and write heartfelt messages to those who will be receiving a kit. At the end of the small group time, we came back together, placed the notes in the bags, and prayed over the 144 kits. There is nothing like seeing kids praying for Jesus to impact the lives of those receiving the kits this holiday season.

To cap off Serve Week, we invited the students to come to our site at LBA in Bastrop and hand out the kits the next night. I am excited to say that we had nearly 140 volunteers show up, many of whom came and brought their families to serve. Every kit was handed out, and students found purpose in sharing their stories with others.

River Valley students have taught me many things about the next generation. Our future is bright when students make other people a priority. Their compassion for those in need gives them insight that we, as adults, forget or can never see. The best part is that when they see the connections between Jesus, themselves, and others, they want everyone to experience it!

So, shout out to you River Valley students and leaders for seeing the value in others. Keep sharing your testimonies and transforming the world one person at a time!

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Feed the Need With Us On Giving Tuesday

Each week Feed the Need Missions diligently works to meet the physical and spiritual needs in the communities we serve across Texas. Our sites meet at the same day and time each week to provide a consistent free meal to anyone who shows up. Beyond the offering of hamburgers and hot dogs, our volunteers and staff also offer each guest prayers and spiritual encouragement.

When disaster hits, we equip a core team with one of our cooking trailers and load it up with food and supplies, and they willingly go at moments notice to help those communities impacted by disaster.

How can you partner with Feed the Need Missions on Giving Tuesday?

Read more about us here. 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. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Purchase our Give Back Beef. You can purchase one time or sign up for monthly subscription boxes at Community Gardens or from our online shop. Our Give Back Beef program not only gives you a great meal, but it also helps us provide hot meals to individuals in need in our communities. Every purchase goes directly to support our weekly programs, making sure we can serve hot meals, lend a friendly ear, and share the love of Jesus.

Thank you to everyone who has donated, volunteered, sponsored, and partnered with Feed the Need Missions this year.

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A Forgotten Community

Meet volunteers Ben and Debbie Ortiz. They faithfully serve weekly at our Stony Point site.

When asked about the impact on the Stony Point community Feed the Need Missions has had Ben shared, “Stony Point is a forgotten community and people do not want to go in there.”

“Not even the cops,” Debbie chimed in.

“Feed the Need Missions makes people feel like they are somebody and not forgotten,” Ben continued.

Ben and Debbie have lived near Stony Point for 40 years and are far too familiar with Stony Point’s reputation.

“We Christians have an ability to make people invisible, and so many have made Stony Point invisible. You can walk by people and make them invisible, walk by them like they are not even there”, Ben admitted. “Feed the Need Missions has changed that,” he continued.

“People are hungry for interaction, to be seen, to be prayed for,” Debbie added.

Serving has helped Ben, Debbie and countless others to see people the way God sees them and recognize opportunities to demonstrate God’s love to those we might otherwise walk right by without a second thought. Debbie recognized there were still people in the community that were not served and felt the Lord prompting them to go into these rougher areas.

“She [Debbie] reminded me we are forgetting the people in the corner. I have the ability to close my eyes to the things I don’t want to see,” Ben said. This opened a door to reach deeper into the community to serve people who are inaccessible to most.

One night after serving there was left over food and Ben saw an opportunity to serve those who most would ignore. He headed into that dark pocket with provision and purpose. Using the burger as a tool he offered a meal and prayer.

The response was overwhelming. Ben shared how one woman was tearful as she received the food and prayer. “The people that are bad when they see someone praying for them they’ll come up to you to get prayer. That’s what Feed the Need Missions has allowed me to do, to go into those spots in my community. It gave me a reason to go into those places to share the gospel.”

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