Bastrop food pantry models dependence on Lord’s provision

By Abby Hopkins

“Mom, we have a turkey for Thanksgiving!”

A young boy exclaimed this and looked at his mother in awe as he discovered his family would receive a turkey from ABC Primera Baptist Church Food Pantry.

Erika Guerrero, Primera’s missions chairperson, was able to hand the turkey to this family on her first day volunteering. Since then, she has joined the work and watched as God has provided turkeys every Thanksgiving, serving as a reminder of the purpose of the food pantry.

ABC Primera is a ministry that seeks to alleviate hunger by feeding the elderly, single parents, homeless, and ill in Bastrop and models a dependence on God for every need. The ministry is supported through the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering.

“We always have enough to pay; it always works out,” said Primera Pastor of Harold Welch. “We see that’s the hand of God.”

The food pantry started in 2003 serving just six families. Now, the ministry serves over 200 families every two weeks.

On the days the food pantry is open, families sign in and receive bags of groceries with 15 items, including fruits, vegetables, bread, and meat.

“We do our best, one person at a time, to alleviate hunger,” Welch said. “We care about the neighborhood.”

However, the ministry is more than just food. Guerrero said they are able to pray with families as they share what is happening in their lives, from jobs to illnesses to praises.

“It’s humbling,” Guerrero said. “It makes you appreciate what you have. I just love being able to love on them and pray with them and share the gospel and how important it is to have Christ in your life.”

God’s provision has been demonstrated in the ways He has supplied for the ministry’s needs, such as a box truck, a walk-in cooler, funds and food, in times of uncertainty.

Additionally, other churches and individuals volunteer to assist in a variety of ways. For example, the local Catholic church makes breakfast tacos to give out on distribution days and volunteers to drive the box truck on pick up days.

“It really depicts what the body of Christ should look like,” Guerrero said.

ABC Primera has watched the Lord’s faithfulness propel the ministry forward and keep it running, showing the community how to ely on God.

“There are those things that you just know God is in control of because you know it wouldn’t happen without Him,” Guerrero said.

Texas Baptist Hunger Offering donations help fund the food ABC Primera gives to its community. To contribute to this work and the work of similar ministries, give to the Hunger Offering here.