“Since it began, God’s Open Hands operates a food pantry and a thrift store – both activities help those who have experience some kind of loss- job, break-up of family or other trying situations,” Martin said
The food pantry 104 Jones Street, Chandler. It is open every Tuesday from 9am- 1pm, and every second Saturday of the month from 10am to noon, and every fourth Thursday from 10am to noon.
“The pantry is funded by cash and food donations from individuals, local businesses and churches,” Martin said. “Food is purchased for the pantry from East Texas Food Bank and The King’s Storehouse, both tax-exempt organizations in Tyler. Occasionally, food for the pantry is purchased from retail stores to supplement supplies obtained.”
She explained that there is a process of how one can receive food at the pantry. “To receive food at the pantry an individual must prove residency within the Brownsboro Independent School Distrct, and complete a Pantry Intake Form on which the individual must provide names, birth dates, relationship, gender and ethnicity of all persons in their household and the amount of total household monthly income (no proof required).”
Upon his or first visit, Martin said, “No person is turned away without food.”
From 2009 through 2013, she expounded, “an average of approximately 12,000 people per year have been served.”
Also, Martin said that all workers at God’s Open Hands Food Pantry are volunteers.
With the thrift store, which is located at 115 Broad Street, in Chandler, the store operates from free donations made to the organization in lieu of payment for items received. “No items available for acquisition at the store are priced,” she stated. “All monies received go to support the organization in purchasing food, rent, utilities, repairs and maintenance.”
Martin did stress that they would rather donations not be left at the Thrift Store “unless an attendant is on duty. Items left on the porch are subject to vandalism and/or damage by the weather. Such items have to be trashed.” The Thrift Store does not accept large appliances or furniture.
The Thrift Store is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10am – 2pm, and every Saturday from 10am- 1pm, according to Martin.
The community can help in a variety of ways – through volunteering and donations. “Every dollar donated goes directly to feed the hungry. We can purchase food items at the food banks at a rate much cheaper than those purchased at retail … usually, at least three times as much can be purchased at the Food Banks by God’s Open Hands than we can do it at a regular retail store,” she said.
For Martin, being a part of GOH is something that she wants to do. “Many individuals face misfortune at some point in time of their lives … it bothers me when I see anyone in need, especially the elderly who are on low income, and have to choose between food or medicine.”
For more information on God’s Open Hands, call (903)849-6966.
