Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fight Hunger

Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry

Did you know that right around the corner on Beauchamp Street, many of your neighbors volunteer weekly to package and deliver food to needy families? The  Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry (HIM) has been in operation since June 2009, and its volunteer crew has continued without interruption through hurricanes, floods, freezing weather, and even a global pandemic.

"Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry serves families across Houston from a small outpost in the Heights. The Pantry works to respectfully nourish our neighbors in need with food and resources to help improve their lives. Since the Pantry opened in 2009, we have relied on the support of our community to make this happen. We currently serve nearly 200 families weekly, and our volunteers and community donors are critically important to our mission," said Laurie  Hardwick, Treasurer of Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry.

Serving Neighbors in Need

The Heights Interfaith Ministries Pantry provides clients a nutritious selection of food items, including non-perishable staples, eggs, fresh produce, basic toiletries, frozen meat, bread and sweets, and other items as available. In 2024, they served (2024 Annual Report.)

• 9,753 families, a 10% increase over 2023

• 19% of clients served were new to the Pantry

• Distributed over 630,000 pounds of food

• Over 335 volunteers provided 9,282 service hours

• Served an average of 195 families weekly from across the Houston area

• Provided close to 60 pounds of food to each client served

Six member churches (Christ the King Catholic Church, Church at 1548 Heights, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, St. Mark's United Methodist, The Vineyard of Houston, and Zion Lutheran Church) provide operational oversight and volunteer and financial support for the Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry. Second Servings Houston, Kroger, Panera, El Rancho, Starbucks, Apple Spice Catering, and The Kolache Shoppe provide additional partnerships and community support.

Interested in helping?

There are many ways you can become a part of neighbors helping neighbors fight hunger, including:

• Volunteering - The Pantry needs over 40 volunteers every week to operate. No prior experience is needed.

• Hold a food drive – Ongoing needs include meals in a can (chili, ravioli, hearty soups, etc.), canned beans,

• pasta and sauce, vegetables, and peanut butter. Every donation helps!

• Make a monetary donation - Your donations help us purchase staples weekly.

To learn more information or sign up, visit the HIM website at himfoodpantry.org

Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry: Doing Good in Woodland Heights

The Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry, located at 3523 Beauchamp, serves our neighbors in need and is a great place to give back to the community right around the corner!

• We just celebrated our 10th anniversary. Since opening, we've served more than 44,000 families and 166,000 individuals.

• We are 100% supported by donations & volunteers.

• We are supported by 6 member churches, as well as many business and individuals, which include:

  • Member churches:  Zion Lutheran, St. Mark's Methodist, Christ the King Catholic, St. Andrew's Episcopal, The Vineyard, and the Church at 1548 Heights

  • Stores / Organizations:  Second Servings of Houston, FruitShare Houston, The Kolache Shoppe on Heights Blvd, Panera Bread, Kroger

  • Community support:  Corporate groups, school & scouting groups, neighbors

• In 2018 our volunteers served more than 5700 hours. 

To learn more about how you can help, visit himfoodpantry.org or call/text 832-478-5444 

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We are a client-choice food pantry, allowing clients to select non-perishable items (canned goods, rice & beans), as well as fresh bread, eggs, produce, frozen meat, and some toiletries. We are open twice a week, and are centrally located in the Heights: 3523 Beauchamp, 77009. We ask clients to bring a photo ID, and a bill/piece of mail w/their local Houston address. We serve clients from all ZIP codes in the Houston area. Our primary client hours are: Thursdays 5 - 7 PM and Saturdays 10 AM - Noon

Volunteer Opportunities & Service Day Ideas:

• Hold a food drive, and bring the collection to stock our shelves. Stocking our shelves can be done on most weekdays or Saturday afternoons. (Needed items that can be collected are listed below.)

• Volunteer during our open hours, and assist clients who are selecting their food. Volunteer times: 4:30-7 PM Thursdays, 9:30 AM-Noon Saturdays. You can sign up directly via SignupGenius at himfoodpantry.org. Youth groups are great - older middle school and high school students can help clients. Younger volunteers may come with adults.

• We receive deliveries from the Houston Food Bank on Thursday mornings where lots of hands help immensely. Deliveries are approximately every 3 weeks. We receive pallets of food that need to be unboxed and stocked in the pantry and our outside shed.

• We need volunteers to pick up donations from area restaurants throughout the week and throughout the month.

• Deliver frozen boxed meals to homebound seniors.

• Plan a work day inside the pantry: paint our door jams, fix doors & caulk holes in walls (yes, we have a few!)

• Build shelving inside our shed. We provide materials.

• Assist during a 5th Saturday Food Fair - we receive a Houston Food Bank truck full of goods and distribute the contents to the community. These are held from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM on 5th Saturdays throughout the year. Our next 5th Saturday event will be in February, 2020.

We especially appreciate the following donations:

• Shelf Milk (boxed liquid)

• Meals in a Can, such as Ravioli & Spaghettios

• Canned fruit and canned vegetables

• Canned tomatoes & tomato/spaghetti sauce

• Spaghetti

• Noodles

• Peanut Butter & Jelly

• Vegetable oil

• Diapers & wipes

• Adult underwear/Depends

• Toothbrushes & toothpaste