For the last six years, the East Spring Branch Food Pantry has been awarded the “Good Neighbor Award” by the Spring Branch Independent School District and, in 2015, the pantry received the Bandini Award for being the best food pantry by the Houston Food Bank. A recent expansion helps the food pantry be an even better neighbor and service provider.

Located at Westview and Wirt, in the parking lot of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in the Spring Branch District, the pantry previously used only half of its current building and shared it with the maintenance equipment of the church.

Now the pantry has the whole building and even added some space, allowing the pantry to function like a small grocery store, where people can come and, with guidance, choose the food their families would like to eat.

The additional space also enables the pantry to take advantage of bargains from the Houston Food Bank and provides space for nutrition classes.

This past Thanksgiving, the Pantry provided almost 1,000 area families with groceries, including fresh produce and a turkey or chicken. Sponsoring churches and businesses provided the nonperishables, and the Pantry purchased the produce and the turkeys. The pantry’s mission is: “to serve with joy all those that come to us.”

See highlights from Thanksgiving 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7avTyBRIzI&feature=youtu.be

At Thanksgiving and throughout the year, the Pantry provides food free of cost to families in urgent need who reside in zip codes 77024, 77041, 77043, 77055, 77080 or 77092.

Some more details about the Pantry:

• Clients may request food nine times over any six month period.
• Clients and their family members are all registered, providing both “current” proof of residence and positive identifications.
• The amount of food distributed is based on the total number of family members (normally between 2 and 5 grocery bags per family per visit).
• Nutrition classes are held once a month for those wanting to know a better way to feed their families.
• Food is provided monthly to Adult Protective Services (APS) for their distribution to 48 families and individuals in serious need who are senior and/or disabled.
• In total, 400-500 families with 1,300-1,800 total members receive food monthly.

The food pantry relies on its volunteers and donations, including both cash and food.

Donations can be made via Venmo or via Paypal. For more info, visit http://eastspringbranchfoodpantry.com

To donate by check, make it payable to East Spring Branch Food Pantry and mail to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 7901 Westview, Houston, TX 77055. E-mail [email protected] for further details.

The Pantry is also always in need of volunteers and welcomes you to contact them about one of the following volunteer positions:

• REGULAR VOLUNTEERS: When the pantry is open, regular volunteers perform tasks such as greeting guests, interviewing guests, and accompanying guests through the pantry.
• SPECIAL PROJECT VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers are needed for special projects such as driving to pick up food at various locations and substituting for regular volunteers. On Monday, Thursday and Friday mornings, volunteers are needed to help unload deliveries. Students are welcome to help sort and stock on Fridays after school.
• SPECIAL PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers are needed for special programs such as Thanksgiving Dinner Distribution and other special programs.

To volunteer, please call Mary at 281-799-6752 or write to [email protected].