"I was hungry and you gave me something to eat." Matthew 25:35
The Impact Church of Christ established a formal distribution program in the summer of 1989. It was staffed by a number of volunteers, many of which are still involved in some way or another with the work at Impact. The volunteers lacked any real knowledge of how to organize the work but all believed strongly in the idea and were willing to learn "in the trenches." This method proved advantageous because it helped the workers assess and solve problems quickly and economically. The Distribution Center activity grew beyond expectations as the news of the presence of free clothing and food rapidly spread in the area around Washington Avenue.
Food, clothing, and financial donations from area churches of Christ as well as donations from various supermarkets and other non-profit organizations provided the needed items and with much excitement - a new work began!
In time, a permanent facility was built on Impact property. It is a fine, large building and the ministry and the program took on a more organized appearance. Computer records of recipients, registration cards and rotating volunteers helped make this an efficient ministry. Things were running smoothly and the food and clothing needs of the neighborhood were being met. When the requests for services sky-rocketed, God blessed Impact with the wherewithal to meet those demands. In the year 2009, the Center gave away over 800,000 lbs of food (an equivalent of 363,000 meals) compared to 300,000 lbs in 2008. The faultering economy increased the need for more help. Already, requests for assistance in 2010 are running ahead of 2009. The Foundation is prepared to help solve some of the needs at the Center. The purchase of a walk-in cooler/freezer is include in our Planned Projects. Although the cooler will solve the immediate issue of being able to buy and store perishable foods, it increases the cost of electricity significantly. Impact does not have the money to budget for that monthly expense. Would you help them with a monthly commitment?
The Distribution Center is open three days a week from 8:30 am until 10:30 am. A Thursday night time is now available and is just for single mothers, most of whom work. During those periods, about 200 people a week are helped. Much of the remainder of each week is devoted to gathering and preparing for another distribution period. Each person is invited to attend a Bible study and many accept. Others attend a Bible class or worship service just to see "who these people are."
The Distribution Center is located at 1712 Depelchin Street, Houston, TX, 77007, and is open to receive your donations from 6:30 am until 2:30 pm, Monday through Thursday.
Any person interested in joining with the 42 current weekly volunteers, please call 713-862-7011. Ask for David Beegle.
