Note: A longer version of this article first appeared in our Down Home South Texas Winter 2024 edition.
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 14:31 The Cuero Area Ministerial Alliance has been serving those in need of food and other essentials through the CAMAL House since 1987. The food pantry, which served 300 households a month in 2022, now provides food assistance to more than 425 households monthly, with numbers expected to continue to rise, according to executive director, Emily Halbert.
As the population of Cuero has grown and the necessity to reach more of those in need, the local food pantry is in the position of need themselves.
“We have outgrown our 2,000 square foot building,” Halbert said. “We are blessed with a donation from Dorothy (Dee) Sager of a vacant lot just down from our current location.” It is the hope of the board of directors for the food bank to build a 5,000 square-foot facility to meet the growing needs as well as streamline the operation.
CAMAL House has announced a “Harvesting Hope” capital campaign aimed at raising $2 million for the construction of that new, state-ofthe- art food pantry. The expansion will provide more space, improved services, and enhanced resources to better serve the community.
Along with more pantry room storage, there will be more cold storage, a conference room and a smaller meeting room. “We will have much more storage space,” Halbert said. “And with more storage, we can have more at the facility without having to get as often food from Victoria.”
To donate to the Harvesting Hope campaign, visit the camalhouse. com website and click on the building fund tab on the donation page.
Previous locations The first location for the food bank was in a house owned by the Methodist Church at 209 E. Morgan Ave. When the food bank received approval of their application by the Victoria Food Bank, they began to acquire more food at a cheaper cost. By 2002, the new non-profit was in need of a larger space. So, on April 4, 2002, the current home of CAMAL House opened at 118 W. Main.
Since being there, a walk-in freezer has been added. Following COVID, the food pantry has been a drive-up service and will continue that way at the new building.
“We will have a covered area for grocery distribution at the new building,” Halbert said.
The architectural firm of RMA Architects and Interior Designers in Victoria will be drawing up the plans for the new building. 'Through capital campaigns we will seek to raise the funds for this venture,” Halbert said.
This year’s offering at the annual Community Thanksgiving Service was earmarked for the new CAMAL House facility. The mission is to foster resilience in De-Witt County and honor God by serving those in need.
To keep providing food and other necessities as needed to the community, it takes a host of regular volunteers, youth organizations, church groups and others to keep the operation running. If you are interested in helping through volunteering or by donating food or items, you may contact the pantry at 361-2755022.
