A line of cars along East 24th Street moves slowly while the drivers await their turn to receive bags of food and necessities through Bridge Ministries Food Pantry. It is the only food pantry in the Brazos Valley to hold evening distribution, which takes place every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. and allows clients who work during the day to take advantage of the service.
“Volunteers will load between 40 and 50 pounds of pantry items per family,” says Bea Hauser, office manager at Bridge Ministries. This could include meat, cheese, eggs, canned food, cereal, fresh produce and fruit in season, bread, and desserts — often purchased from the Brazos Valley Food Bank using donations.
Individuals and families are eligible to come once a month to receive food and other resources, such as shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, and toilet paper. “If there's a baby in the family, we provide a little bit of diapers and wipes,” Hauser says. “There are things that they need that they can't get with food stamp money. We'll give out feminine hygiene products too,” she says, particularly to teens who may have to miss school without access to these products.
Whatever can’t be purchased through the Brazos Valley Food Bank comes to Bridge Ministries through donations via their Amazon Wish List, delivered directly to its office, or through the monthly drive listed on the nonprofit’s website. Current needs include peanut butter, boxes of cereal, cans of Rotel or diced tomatoes, and apple juice and are always appreciated. Some items on the Amazon Wish List include laundry detergent packs, body wash, shampoo, diaper rash ointment, and more. The nonprofit currently does not accept clothes, shoes, home goods, and furniture.
The Bridge Ministries Food Pantry is an interfaith nonprofit that began in 2010 as a small bible study. Its goal is to alleviate food insecurity and to provide nutritional food to Texas residents. Prior to the pandemic, clients “shopped” at the pantry u
sing a cart, just like at a grocery store, choosing the groceries that they needed. All that changed after COVID-19 to avoid any possibility of spreading the virus through common touchpoints. In spite of this concern, the Bridge Ministries staff was committed to continue serving the community and honoring its mission. “We decided that the best way to do this would be a drive-through,” Bea Hauser says.
Bridge Ministries is manned by a small staff, assisted by volunteers. During the summer months, when many college students leave town, volunteers are particularly needed. “The community is what makes it work,” says Hauser. “We are a family, and we want to help our family right here.”
For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, visit thebridgeministries.org.
