Food pantries helping make Thanksgiving better

By Brynna Williamson
news@wood.cm
Posted 11/21/24

As statistics will show, it is always around this time of the year – when the weather is turning crisp, and decorations begin to fill the streets – that communities tend to most heartily …

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Food pantries helping make Thanksgiving better

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As statistics will show, it is always around this time of the year – when the weather is turning crisp, and decorations begin to fill the streets – that communities tend to most heartily embrace those who are less fortunate.

Wood County is among communities that takes care of its own.

While there are many year-round resources available for food assistance, several local organizations have put in lots of extra work this year to make sure that anyone who wants to participate in Thanksgiving is able. From churches to food pantries to individuals putting in a helping hand, Wood County citizens have made a place for all at the Thanksgiving table this year.

Rose Hill Community Food Pantry, which is located off Highway 80 in Mineola, is one such. Not only is this pantry participating in the free community dinner to be held at Logan’s Place on Thanksgiving Day, but they have other sweet plans as well.

The food pantry will be passing out a “Thanksgiving bag” on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 11-3. This is not the run-of-the-mill, afterthought type giveaway, however: Rose Hill Community Food Pantry Director and owner Kris Ware says that the giveaway will be enough for a full Thanksgiving dinner for four. They have 100 such bags to give away, but everyone who attends will still get some food.

The giveaway sack will contain chicken, stuffing, green beans, corn, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth and cans of fruit.

“We call our pantry God’s pantry. It’s not my pantry; I’m just a volunteer that God allows to come in and work at this pantry,” said Ware. “We try really hard to take good care of (what God has given us) and make sure everybody gets fed…. We call this a hand-up pantry, not a hand-out pantry.”

Ware says Rose Hill Community Food Pantry has been feeding 550 families a month. Anyone from Wood County is eligible to come pick up a free Thanksgiving dinner from the pantry.

Similarly, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church’s Food Pantry (which is also in Mineola) has gone above and beyond to make all feel welcome. This year, the food pantry expects to serve around 150 individuals with a Thanksgiving-themed food giveaway, in addition to giving them a special hot meal.

According to director Kitten Garrett, St. Paul’s food pantry does a “themed pantry” every month, where volunteers dress up according to the theme. They even feed “family members” (what they call participants in the pantry) a hot meal while they wait for their pantry box; the hot meal and the giveaway are both centered around that month’s theme “so that they can go home and fix what’s on the table.”

“If we get to love on them, tell them about Jesus and give them food, we have completed our mission,” said Garrett. “That’s what our pantry is about as well, is meeting people where they’re at…our pantry is for everybody; we don’t care if someone is a drug addict, alcoholic (etc.) – it’s just food, and everybody needs food.”

In November, the hot meal will be a potluck-style Thanksgiving meal, which is also furnished by the church. Garrett mentions that, despite the fact that donations have yet to come in for the November food box, they are planning to continue on with their regular giveaway.

“Nothing’s come in yet, so I know God has to be saving it. Like, it’s gonna be big,” she said with a laugh. “It all happens because the Lord instructs it. Like I said, no one ends up at our door by mistake.”

The hot meal and food giveaway will be held on Nov. 21 from 11-2. Anyone is welcome: according to Garrett, there is no point system, no qualifications and no pressure. 

St. Dunstan Catholic Church is also associated with St. Paul MBC’s food pantry program. Regardless of differences in religion and background, members of both churches work together seamlessly to ensure that everyone is shown “good love.”

“We really have a unique program that we do over there,” said Ron White, who heads the home delivery program for the pantry. “We don’t count the food; we’re there for the blessing to the people. The food is just an extra thing that God has provided for everybody. We try to pour out the love.”

Those who normally participate in the East Texas Food Bank’s Mobile Distribution should note that their giveaways will not be Thanksgiving-themed. Distribution dates for Mineola and Quitman will be held on Nov. 21 this year due to the Thanksgiving holiday.