Over 160 families living outside the San Antonio city limits were greeted by men, women and children volunteers from Schertz, Texas’ Bracken United Methodist Church on November 23 at Pickrill Park. For approximately five years, Bracken UMC has been working with the San Antonio Food Bank to provide food for families living near the intersection of three Texas counties: Bexar, Guadalupe and Comal.

“[San Antonio] Food bank was having trouble meeting needs people in outlying zip code area,” said Rev. Chris Bistline of Bracken UMC. “We heard of the need through our Wesley Nurse at the time. People became passionate and started contributing specifically so we can have need met in our own community.”

The once-a-month Bracken UMC food drive, in cooperation with the San Antonio Food Bank, has been growing steadily over the years. They have been serving around 120 families for the past 24 months.

The recent Thanksgiving Holiday brought more families in need, and the school holiday brought more volunteers.

“Usually these people [picking up food at the drive] are just like you and me except they are working two or three jobs; and aren’t able to feed children,” said Rev. Bistline. “We’re passionate about helping serve this need.”

Volunteers like Barbara Gordy are also passionate about “serving this need,” for people living north of San Antonio.

“We’re the hands of Christ,” said Gordy. “We don’t advertise who we are. They see that we are Christian and that we are here [for them]. We actually are Christ in a sense.”