To continue the work of helping others, understanding key issues facing our society, and being the body of Christ, the Disciples Mission HUB provided $23,000 in grant funding to 23 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations and ministries who are HUB members working to fight food insecurity. See the good news of how these congregations are making a difference in their local communities by being the hands and feet of Christ.
1. Affton Christian Church, St. Louis, Missouri
In St. Louis, Missouri, Affton Christian Church is working to meet the needs of community members whose finances are limited or nonexistent at the ends of each month. Feeding 75 people on average, Affton provides a meal, including sending home leftovers and providing food pantry items.
2. Brentwood Christian Church, Springfield, Missouri
Providing groceries for immigrant families who are afraid to go shopping due to increased ICE presence, Brentwood Christian Church in Springfield, Missouri is taking a creative approach to meet community needs. Brentwood started by collecting and delivering shelf-stable items to six affected families and expanded this work with funding from the Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant. A local organization hosted an event for families to “shop,” and Brentwood provided fresh protein items such as beef, chicken, and eggs that are more difficult to access through food pantries.
3. Central Christian Church, Danville, Illinois
In Vermilion County, Illinois, where food insecurity rates are higher than the state average, Central Christian Church meets neighbors where they are. The Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant allowed Central Christian Church to provide family meal kits with a recipe and ingredients for a family of four available for discrete pickup from the church’s Blessing Box. Additionally, grant funds supported Central’s yearly Thanksgiving dinner kits, adding 10 meals.
4. Englewood Christian Church, Yakima, Washington
To support neighbors dealing with housing and food insecurity, Englewood Christian Church in Yakima, Washington makes and delivers 200 sandwiches each week. The Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant provided the funding for four months worth of sandwiches.
5. First Christian Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
First Christian Church- Tuscaloosa (Disciples of Christ) works with local partners to help meet the needs of people dealing with food insecurity in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama community, providing a monthly meal to support the work of the East Tuscaloosa Community Soup Bowl. Funds from Disciples Home Missions supported this monthly meal through making it possible for First Christian Church to provide fresh fruit to visitors. Additionally, funds filled 120 food bags for local social workers to hand out to clients.
6. First Christian Church, Duncanville, Texas
Gene’s Basket at First Christian Church, Duncanville, TX is a ministry bringing food and compassion to the community. Restocking food pantry shelves with groceries, First Christian Church helps feed 200 people weekly. Thanks to Disciples Home Missions funds, First Christian Church has added 55 pounds of fresh fruit to weekly perishable item donations.
7. First Christian Church, Hampton, Virginia
Working with community partners to fight food insecurity in Hampton, Virginia, First Christian Church provides monthly meals to 130 unhoused neighbors each month. The Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant supports this ministry to continue financially.
8. First Christian Church, Midwest City, Oklahoma
Supporting teens aging out of foster care, First Christian Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma donates backpacks filled with easy-to-prepare foods to the Homeless Liaison in their local school system. This dignity-affirming support takes some of the burden off of these at-risk youth, allowing them to focus on finishing school. The Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant made it possible for First Christian Church to donate items to refill the backpacks with additional meals.
9. Portland First Christian Church, Portland, Oregon
Each year, First Christian Church Portland and provides over 250,000 meals of to neighbors fighting food insecurity. Through initiatives such as the weekly sandwich ministry and two non-profits housed in their building, Clay Street Table and HOMEpdx, First Christian Church distributes one ton of food each week. Disciples Home Missions funding helped purchase additional food items and remove some of the financial burden on church-building upkeep.
10. Hope Christian Church, Hammond, Indiana
Hope Christian Church in Hammond, Indiana addresses food insecurity in the community through a biweekly food pantry and monthly meal distribution, serving about 400 people each month. The Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant made it possible for Hope Christian Church to prioritize healthier options and expand the pantry to serve additional community members.
11. First Christian Church, Hot Springs, Arkansas
In Hot Springs, Arkansas, the poverty rate is significantly higher than the state average—especially in households with children. First Christian Church is working to meet these needs through a food pantry ministry open once a month, along with extra items for anyone who comes by and needs support. With the Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant coming at a pivotal time when SNAP benefits were delayed, funds allowed First Christian Church to meet the increased needs in the community.
12. In the Spirit Christian Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, In the Spirit Christian Church supports neighbors fighting food insecurity through a variety of ministries, partnering with local organizations to provide meals and growing produce in their community garden. The Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant helped to restock pantry shelves and purchase tools to maintain the community garden.
13. Othello Christian Church “The Polka Dot Church,” Othello, Washington
Othello, Washington has a large community of unhoused folks living just outside of town. To support these neighbors, Othello Christian Church provides sandwiches, snacks, and water each Sunday after worship. Disciples Home Missions and the Othello Food Bank financially support this ministry, allowing Othello Christian Church to feed more community members.
14. Ridglea Christian Church, Fort Worth, Texas
Ridglea Christian Church in Forth Worth, Texas grows produce to donate to neighbors in need at the Ridglea Giving Garden. In the first two years, Ridglea donated 4,000 pounds of healthy produce. The Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant made it possible to purchase seeds, tools, and supplies necessary to keep the garden growing.
15. South Street Christian Church, Springfield, Missouri
South Street Christian Church in Springfield, Missouri supports food insecure community members through preparing a monthly meal, financially supporting a local food pantry, and opening up the church parking lot to a food program supporting the unhoused. The Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant supports South Street’s continued efforts to support these ministries.
16. Snow Hill Christian Church, Fort Deposit, Alabama
In Fort Deposit, Alabama, Snow Hill Christian Church partnered with local organizations and utilized the Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant to feed over 300 families, providing fresh fruits and vegetables, a prepared meal, and shelf-stable items.
17. Wyatt Park Christian Church, St. Joseph, Missouri
Wyatt Park Christian Church partners with local agencies helping children and families in crisis. With the financial support of the Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant, Wyatt Park supported six families, purchasing meals and groceries specific to each family’s needs.
18. Just Love – Greater New Orleans, Louisiana
In a community with one of the highest senior poverty rates in the nation, Just Love is collaborating with other churches in the Greater New Orleans area to provide sit-down meals, sanitary supplies, housing vouchers, and more. The Disciples Home Missions Food Insecurity Grant funds weekly meals, allowing Just Love to redirect resources and purchase additional sanitary supplies and housing vouchers.
