Food Pantry

Client-Choice Pantry

At Eastside, one of the ways we seek to love our neighbors is by caring for practical needs, including providing food during difficult times.  We believe that meeting physical needs is an important way to reflect the love of Christ. Our goal is not only to provide food, but also to offer encouragement, kindness, and a reminder that no one has to walk through hardship alone. Every interaction is an opportunity to serve with compassion and dignity.

One of Eastside's most active benevolence ministries is our Food Pantry.  Eastside has maintained a Food Pantry for over 50 years.  We've been partnered with the West Texas Food Bank (WTFB) since at least 2013. Unfortunately, the Food Pantry was destroyed along with the rest of our main building in 2018.   WTFB filled the gap during the three years that we were without a building by setting up monthly food distributions and providing pre-made pantry boxes which we kept in one corner of the Annex for emergencies.

We understood that many in our community depended upon our assistance, so a priority in the new building was our Client-Choice Food Pantry. In fact, the pantry area is nearly as large as our worship center! Our church elders consider the Pantry to be a very high priority outreach, and are committed to its success.  

Beginning December 1, 2021, our new Food Pantry began serving clients at the new church building. "Client -choice" means clients can "shop" from available food, choosing the items best suited to their family's dietary preferences, likes, and needs. We believe this method of distribution gives our neighbors more dignity and allows better use of our church resources than a pre-prepared box of food items they may not be able to use.  Distributions are given based upon WTFB rules and requirements.  Their invaluable partnership enables us to serve so many more families than we could without them.  Most of our food comes through the WTFB.  Some they are able to provide for free, and the rest they offer to us at a reduced price from what we would have to pay retail.  

We also are blessed with some local community support.  Financial donations are always welcome--they help us purchase more food.  Some groups conduct food drives on our behalf, especially around the holidays.  Some business donate items that are surplus, near-date, or otherwise unsellable.  (EXAMPLES: Fresh bakery items, Christmas Cap'n Crunch cereal in January, or busted cases of drinks from a retailer that only sells full cases.) Sometimes we get donations from individuals also.   Donations allow us to continue serving our community in meaningful ways.

While we believe in the client-choice model, it is the most labor intensive method of distribution.  Our pantry is blessed to be staffed with a wonderful group of volunteers, including bilingual volunteers.  These ladies donate many hours of their time-not just when the pantry if open, but also accepting deliveries and stocking shelves after hours. This ministry would not be possible without their generosity.

Our pantry is open from 9-noon Monday -Friday (except on major holidays,) keeping simultaneous hours with our church office.  Sign-up is easy--just basic household information.  Clients must be registered by 11:45.  This allows time for them to complete their shopping and for staff to restock shelves before closing time, so that we are ready to start again the next day.  Currently we are serving around 250 families each month.

Produce Pods

We also host the West Texas Food Bank Produce Pod in the front parking lot approximately once a month.  WTFB brings a refrigerated trailer full of produce to for us to give away to the entire Kermit community.  No qualifications are needed for this wonderful outreach. The Pantry closes on Produce Pod days.

See the church calendar for dates.

We believe in loving Jesus by loving our neighbor. We desire to know God better through Bible study, and change our community through service, while walking with Jesus through it all. 

If you or someone you know is in need, we invite you to reach out. It would be our privilege to serve and support you during this time.