Coordinator: Alice Bowser
Bethany Christian Church Food Pantry
3507 E. 12th St., Austin, TX 78721
Coordinator: Alice Bowser
Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a congregation located in East Austin. The congregation serves a great need in the 78702, 78721, and 78723 zip codes by distributing food the second Wednesday 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon, and fourth Tuesday 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. of each month except for November and December. The pantry is open once in November and December because special food is distributed for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Food is purchased from the Capital Area Food Bank and other sources. Also, food is donated by sister Disciples of Christ Churches and concerned persons. If you volunteer to help at the food panty on a distribution day, you will enjoy the wonderful fellowship of serving with others. Additionally, you will witness the joy of serving others. If you have questions or seek additional information about the Bethany Faith Food Pantry, please contact: Alice Bowser (coordinator) 512-926-2098 or Virginia Hemphill (Asst. to Coordinator) at 512-470-8163.
Bethany Christian Church Food Pantry History
The food pantry at Bethany, called Faith Food Pantry, was started in 2005, when a young man visiting the congregation suggested it. Georgia Booker, the wife of the minister at the time, brought the idea to the Disciples Women Ministry. Bethany Faith Food Pantry was organized with a core of faithful Bethany members. In the beginning we couldn't get meat from the Food Bank, so we used donations from the congregation to buy hotdogs. The pantry began by serving 25 clients twice a month. Flyers were sent to local schools and churches advertising the new mission. Alice remembers that their first client, whose son attended Sims Elementary School, found a flyer about the pantry in his backpack. One of Alice's most poignant memories of the beginning of the pantry is about an envelope placed in the church's mailbox soon after the pantry opened. The envelope contained a note saying, "I am in need and I know others are too. Thank you for starting the pantry." The envelope also contained $2.00.
Many of the Chrsitain Churches (Disciples of Christ): United, Central, Shepherd of the Hills, Hyde Park and University help financially, provide food and workers for the pantry. There is a lot of history and love between all the Disciples congregations in which we share a common interest and goal in helping the needy. We hope that you will join us as a volunteer or a supporter and become a part of this rich relationship.
