ASHLEY TERRY
A brand-new outreach ministry is putting the “heart” in hearty meals, serving more than 714 meals to residents in need — and that’s just within the first month.
Brothers and Sisters Outreach Ministry — created a few months ago by new Pelican Bay resident Greg Thompson — has hit the ground running since it began earlier this summer.
From initially serving meals to the homeless to creating a regular communitywide food service this month, Thompson has made it his mission to feed anyone who’s hungry through his newly established organization.
“Everywhere I went, we’ve always had a community meal,” Thompson said. “Our outreach is really based around the homeless and people that are in immediate need, but a community meal has always been a big part of that because that covers them and anyone else who needs it.”
While Thompson may be new to the area, he’s not new to community outreach. In fact, he previously served as an assistant with the faith-based nonprofit organization Feeding Hearts Inc. in Freeport, where he helped prepare meals for hundreds of residents in need.
“We were in a small 700-square-foot home, feeding a thousand people on the weekend. We even had a hurricane come through, and without power, we still did it,” Thompson said. “There's no excuse.”
As soon as Thompson settled into the area and his new home, he began networking — introducing himself to members of the community and serving meals to the homeless — and that’s when he met Amber Watson.
Watson, executive director of local ministry P.R.A.I.S.E. Worship Nights, said she was the only one delivering food and groceries to the community — that is, until Brothers and Sisters came along.
“Since joining with these guys — who have done an awesome job with hot meals and feeding in-house — they’ve kind of taken over the food outreach that we have,” Watson said.
Thompson said the duo came together and instantly came up with the idea to take their initiative to the next level with communitywide meals.
SERVING UP SUPPORT
With the help of just a handful of volunteers, Thompson and Watson created a weekly community meal service in Pelican Bay, offering hot meals to anyone in need.
“The goal is just to be able to reach anybody who's hungry,” Thompson said. “I did it for two weeks in a row to kind of get a feel for it, but it's increasing so we kind of need to take a step back to maybe every other week right now to be able to meet that demand.”
While the service was launched in Pelican Bay, Thompson said much of the need has come from other areas like Azle, Springtown and Briar.
“The majority of it is seniors, people without transportation and single moms and dads,” Thompson said. “If you’re feeding macaroni and cheese for dinner or even using hamburger meat, you’re talking about $25 to $45 for a family of four or five per meal. It’s a big deal if you can just take that one meal off somebody’s plate.”
Although other food service organizations have income requirements or other criteria residents have to meet before they can be served, Thompson said the Brothers and Sisters initiative only has one requirement: come hungry.
“There’s really no paperwork to fill out,” he said. “Just come eat. Young, old — it doesn’t matter.”
“Love doesn’t ask why you’re hungry,” Watson added. “Love just pours the soup.”
While the meals are always changing — dependent upon what’s on sale at Albertson’s — the community response has been staggering, with Thompson even throwing himself into debt to try to keep up with the need.
“I have to drill it into him: you don't want to put yourself in debt,” Watson said. “In the ministry, God will provide.”
Since Thompson started serving the tri-county area — Tarrant, Parker and Wise — he said the ministry has served 714 meals altogether, with 149 plates handed out in just one week.
“We even had leftovers,” Thompson said. “God’s got a way of stretching that basket out for you.”
A COMMUNITY EFFORT
Thompson said the duo wouldn’t be able to continue the communitywide meals without dedicated volunteers — some of whom have spent countless hours and their own gas helping deliver meals and serve the community.
“I have one lady who has probably delivered 100 meals by herself and food boxes to 30 different families in a 12-mile area,” Thompson said.
Brothers and Sisters is also something of a family affair, with Thompson’s sister, Amanda Whitehead, lending a hand with cooking and delivering meals — sometimes while delivering meals for DoorDash.
“She’s DoorDashing for Jesus. That’s what we call it,” Thompson said, with a chuckle.
“She’s one of the ones who’s grinding,” Watson added. “She’s out there delivering the meals and she’s talking to local businesses about food donations and sponsoring.”
Whitehead’s work has certainly paid off. Thompson said many businesses have donated food to the cause, including Little Caesars, Faithful Acres, Shine On Sisters and upcoming new Springtown business, The Velvet Crumb Bakehouse Bistro.
“Partnering, that’s the only way it’s going to work,” Thompson said, “because there's not going to be big grants coming through or anything like that.”
“Grant writing is time-consuming,” Watson added. “We’re small. I’m not saying we won’t eventually look into that and maybe explore a little more, but currently we’re ran off our own pocket money and donations. That’s all.”
Watson said if anyone wishes to donate, the organization is currently in need of anything that is “hearty, cheap and can go far,” such as pasta, rice, beans and ramen.
While the goal is to eventually secure a building that can house all P.R.A.I.S.E.’s and Brothers and Sisters’ ministries, until then, the duo plans to continue what they’ve been doing — feeding the community one meal at a time.
“Of course, we’re going to need more funding, more donations and more volunteers — but it’s all in his time,” Watson said. “He’ll provide for us.”
MORE THAN A MEAL
Although the duo doesn’t know where their mission will take them next, Thompson said he strives to have Brothers and Sisters fill a role that churches historically played in their communities — bringing people together and ensuring neighbors take care of neighbors.
“I just want to feed people,” Thompson said. “I want people to be OK knowing that God loves them. There's no stipulation behind that — just simple love.”
“The church isn't a building. The church isn't a religion,” Watson said. “The church is God's children helping one another — and that's what we're trying to do.”
For Watson, that sense of community is already starting to take shape.
“We have repeats. I want to call them customers, but they're more like family,” she said. “I had one reach out the other day, and she was like, ‘I literally have you saved in my phone as “Lifesaver,”’ so when you hear those kinds of things, you know you're making that difference.”
Brothers and Sisters’ next meal will be held Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. in Squiggly Park, located directly across from Pelican Bay City Hall, 1300 Pelican Circle in Pelican Bay. For now, the community meals will be held every other Saturday at 1 p.m.
To become a sponsor or donate to Brothers and Sisters, call Thompson at 817-706-0078.
“We’ll keep doing the work, no matter where it’s at,” Thompson said. “That’s our mission — we’ll see where God takes it.”
