There are lots of resources to assist Wood County residents with food-related needs. From meals delivered to the elderly, to statewide programs aimed at helping low-income residents with grocery bills, to food banks, children’s weekend meals and more, no one in Wood County needs to go hungry.

Food Pantries

Alba-Golden Food Pantry is associated with First Baptist Church Alba. It is held on the first Friday of each month, from 9-11 a.m. Patrons must live in the Alba-Golden school district and be able to prove residency.

Feed My Sheep food pantry is associated with Lake Fork Baptist Church. It is held on the second Tuesday of each month, 1-3 p.m. It is open to all patrons.

Kindness Kottage, which is both a thrift shop and a food pantry, is supported by many churches and civic groups. It is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Patrons must live in the Mineola ISD school district.

East Texas Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry, which recently set a Wood County record for having served over 800 families in Mineola in one week, comes to Wood County twice a month. There are no eligibility requirements and no paperwork to fill out. The Mobile Pantry comes to Bud Moody Stadium in Quitman on the third Wednesday and Meredith Memorial Stadium in Mineola on the last Thursday of the month. Food is given away from 10-11:30 a.m.

Rose Hill Community Food Pantry focuses on “the food insecurity of seniors,” according to their website, but they “(serve) all in Wood County who have a need.” They have three types of food giveaways: produce and dairy only, pantry boxes, and senior boxes. Pickups include 2nd Wednesday, 10 a.m. til out, regular pickup, and Senior Box Day, 3rd Saturday 10 a.m., regular pickup, 110 PR 6882 (Hwy. 80 West). Visit their website for more information.

Winnsboro Community Resource Center and Food Pantry is open Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Call them at 903-342-3287 for more information.

CS Food Pantry in Quitman, which is associated with the First United Methodist Church in Quitman, is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Their Facebook page says that “If you are in need of food and live within Quitman ISD or an area of Wood County that is not currently served by a food pantry, please visit us.” They do ask prospective patrons to bring proof of residence “such as picture ID or utility bill showing current address.”

Bread of Life Ministry distributes food on first and third Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m. at at 1001 E. McDonald St. in Mineola.

Lake Fork Baptist Church food pantry, second Tuesday from 1-3 p.m., 9483 West FM 515, Alba.

St. Paul MBC Food Pantry is open on the last Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. They are staffed by many volunteers from the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, both in Mineola. According to Ron White, a volunteer for the pantry, staffers consider the food pantry “not a give you a box and shove you out the door” place; rather, he says, “we try to cater to people.” This means they assess local needs, from the area to the individual, and do their best to fill the need. The food pantry also does home deliveries “for individuals that are homebound and can not find a way to our food pantry.” Deliveries are done on the last Tuesday of pantry week and are primarily for those living in the Mineola area. If anyone is interested in signing up for the home delivery service, contact Ron White at 903-368-0897.

Other Food Resources

Love One is associated with Summit Heights Fellowship near Holly Lake Ranch. It is held on a by-need basis; those wanting any of their services, which include a food pantry, a backpack program for children’s weekend meals, or “financial assistance, light construction/building assistance and counseling for those tough times we all have” are asked to call the church at 903-769-5052.

Meals on Wheels is a resource for disabled and/or senior citizens. All who are qualified under the eligibility criteria will be served; according to their website, “no qualifying individual is ever denied meal service based on the inability to pay.” Eligible patrons will be hand-delivered five “nutritionally balanced” meals a week, which are diabetic friendly, prepared fresh daily and meet all RDA requirements, according to their website. In Wood County, Meals on Wheels services Alba, Hawkins, Quitman, Winnsboro and Mineola. Call 903-593-7385 for more information or to apply for this service.

Hawkins Helping Hand is an “emergency source of help for a short term need for those who have lost their job, or have a need for temporary help.” In addition to giving qualified families one free food box per month, HHH gives help for those who are in need of long-term assistance. Their website notes that they “give free food, clothing, furniture, and whatever else we have at the time, if a local family has lost their home due to fire.” They also “try to help people find employment whenever possible or point them to where they can get the education needed to secure a position.” Applicants for the program must either have a Hawkins address or live in the Hawkins school district.

The Blessing Box, located in Winnsboro, is a food pantry, retail thrift shop, and (when funds are available), help with utility payments. They are open Thursdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon.

In addition to all of these local food-related resources, those interested in applying for statewide food-related programs can visit https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/programs/benefits-assistance/ for help filling out the applications.

Note: The Wood County Monitor takes no responsibility for patron eligibility at these institutions; we are simply providing resources available in the area.