A Bryan food pantry that serves families from across the Brazos Valley says it helped more households in October than in any month in its history, and the Salvation Army reports a growing number of visitors who hold full-time jobs.
The Bridge Ministries served 908 families in October, an organizational record, outreach coordinator Emma Bridges told KXXV. Bridges said the pantry served 143 families during a single Thursday distribution this week. She told the station Tuesdays usually draw about 80 families and Thursdays, when the pantry runs a drive-through line, typically draw 140 to 150.
Who is asking for help
Maj. David Swyers of the Salvation Army told KXXV that over the past two months he has seen more households in which two adults work full time come in for food. According to the station, many of those families earn too much to qualify for state assistance but still come up short on bills and groceries by the end of the month.
"Now I say people are one missed day of work from having to come see us," Swyers told KXXV. He said asking for help still carries a stigma, and that many first-time visitors tell staff they never expected to need the Salvation Army. Bridges told the station that many people are "one paycheck away" from losing their housing.
Getting food
The Bridge Ministries, at 304 Post Office Street in Bryan, lists two weekly distributions on its website: a grocery-style "Neighbor's Choice" pantry on Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. by appointment, and a drive-through on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with no appointment needed. Each household may receive food once a month, the pantry says. Its phone number is (979) 704-6037.
The Brazos Valley Food Bank keeps a list and interactive map of partner pantries on its Find Food page.
In College Station, the list includes First Baptist Church of College Station on Welsh Avenue (Tuesdays, 7 a.m. to noon, with registration from 8 to 10 a.m.), First United Methodist Church on Wellborn Road (first Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), Lincoln House of Hope on Eleanor Drive (second Friday, 8 to 10 a.m.) and Parkway Baptist on Southwest Parkway (third Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon).
The Salvation Army's Bryan pantry at 2506 Cavitt St. is listed as open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. The food bank says pantries can close early once their food runs out and suggests calling 2-1-1 for more help. Its own number is 979-779-3663.
