Serving the Community: Schertz UMC’s Food Pantry Continues to Grow
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Hannah Ortiz
Communications Consultant, Rio Texas Conference
What began as a small effort to serve neighbors in need has quickly grown into a thriving ministry at Schertz United Methodist Church. When the Food Pantry held its first distribution in April 2025, volunteers served 50 families, representing 117 individuals. Less than a year later, the ministry has more than doubled its reach. At the most recent distribution on February 19, 2026, the pantry served 106 families—providing food for 451 people in the community.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Neal, Schertz UMC Director of Communications
Photo courtesy of Michelle Neal, Schertz UMC Director of Communications
Each third Thursday of the month, volunteers gather at Universal City Veterans Park to make the distribution possible. The work begins long before the first family arrives, with teams coordinating shopping trips, sorting and packing food, loading supplies, and preparing for distribution day.
It takes dozens of volunteers working together to make the ministry run smoothly, but for those involved, the effort is more than worth it. What happens at the pantry is not simply a distribution of food—it is an expression of care, hospitality, and faithful service.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Neal, Schertz UMC Director of Communications
Leaders at Schertz UMC give thanks for the ways God continues to bless the ministry. As the need grows, they remain confident that by following God’s leading, the people, resources, and support needed to continue serving the community will be faithfully provided.
