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Grace Bridge Food Bank celebrates first anniversary in Celina
Penny Rathbun/Staff photo
Sarah Jenkins, Jeff Wilkes and his four-year-old son Isaac of Prestonwood Baptist Church north campus put out eggs for the Grace Bridge Food Bank Easter egg hunt held on the Celina downtown square on April 7. The food bank celebrated its first anniversary. It served about 530 families in its first year.
530 families served during first year
By Penny Rathbun
prathbun@starlocalnews.com
The organization celebrated its first anniversary on Easter weekend with an Easter egg hunt for the children and a free lunch of hotdogs and hamburgers for the community.
Other than that it was business as usual on the first and third Saturdays of the month when the food bank hands out boxes of food to the hungry in Celina.
On Saturday April 7 Grace Bridge volunteers also gave away garage sale items of clothing and household items to families that needed them who were also receiving food.
Carter Morris is the lead volunteer for Grace Bridge and also a minister on staff at Prestonwood Baptist Church north campus in Prosper.
He said Celina churches Bethel Baptist Church and Circle of Love and Christ Fellowship Church in Prosper have taken leadership roles in the operation of Grace Bridge. Many other Celina area churches have helped with the food bank as well.
“We have had about 300 volunteers from the community in general help out. The first year went as well as we hoped it would,” Morris said.
Prestonwood Baptist Church north campus, Masters Foundation, Feed the Children and the Celina Christian Men's Fellowship combined forces to open Grace Bridge Food Bank.
It is at 319 Walnut just off the square in what used to be Piranio's auto shop. Building owner Van Nichols provided the building at no cost for one year. Volunteers cleaned and painted the inside and built shelving and office space.
Morris is also pleased that so many local organizations have helped at the food bank over its first year such as the Boy Scouts and the Celina Chamber of Commerce.
“People have gone over the top to help,” he said.
He also said that food is just one of the ways that Grace Bridge Food Bank can help people.
“I feel like from the time people come onto site they should be meeting people that are encouraging them. When they are encouraged by praying or a Bible verse, that helps as much as the food does,” he said. “Our food is one of the ways that help people with their needs.”
He said the U.S. Highway 380 corridor is the target area for the food bank as well as Celina, Little Elm and The Colony.
In its first year the food bank has served about 530 families.
The food bank helps with things other than food and clothing. Last July food bank volunteers handed out backpacks filled with school supplies to families that had registered for them.
Morris is very appreciative of the organizations and individuals that have volunteered to help with Grace Bridge Food Bank. He said there is always a need for volunteers.
“If someone wants to volunteer there is a place for them no matter what they can do,” he said.
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