Parker County ministry provides help, hope for those in need including homeless

Sometimes the best ideas come from the youngest minds.

In 2016 Tony Froid’s 12-year-old daughter, Toni, wanted to help homeless folks in Fort Worth. Her idea was to put together blessing bags filled with hygiene items, small Bibles and other goodies.

“While delivering the blessing bags God showed us the bags were very important, but He had a bigger plan,” Froid recalled. “Our mission was to build relationships and do our best to offer hope. After a week or so, word traveled about our intentions and He sent the perfect people to take Hearts Full of Love onward.”

And that is how Hearts Full of Love (HFOL) was created. The program, based in Weatherford, reaches out to those in need, especially homeless, regardless of societal status, by meeting their physical needs.

“When we first started the ministry, we were driving to Fort Worth every Saturday to serve down on Lancaster, but in 2018 we started noticing the homeless population growing in Parker County and decided it was time to start serving in our own community,” said HFOL Housing Program Director Lisa Terry.

“Up until the last few years, Parker County only had a handful of people living unsheltered, but the numbers have grown greatly the last few years and I think our community is beginning to recognize this growth. We’ve had a tremendous community response from local churches, businesses and individuals who have partnered with us to address and meet those needs.”

HFOL has numerous areas of assistance, including:

▪ The Horseshoe Bend Food Pantry, a lower-income community just south of Weatherford, now in its third year. During that time they have provided about 2,500 boxes of food and hot breakfasts to families in need.

▪ Front Porch Friends, offered on the patio of a local church featuring a hot breakfast. They also offer limited nonperishable foods, hygiene items and weather-related clothing. “Some of our friends without homes gather there to fellowship and eat every Saturday morning,” Terry said.

▪ Rapid Re-Housing, in its third year. This program is a year long and provides short-term rental assistance and case management services to those families and individuals who are living on the streets. HFOL offers accountability, assistance with budgeting, increased life skills and connection to other local services as needed. The ultimate goal of the Rapid Re-housing is self sufficiency. Terry said 23 families have successfully completed the program and are now self-sufficient, while 15 families are currently enrolled at various stages of the program.

“I was homeless, fighting breast cancer and liver failure in my care while on a housing list,” said HFOL help recipient Lisa Kinney. “After begging God for help, he sent me a resource called Hearts Full of Love. They put me in an apartment four days later. Today, I’ve got a home and I’m able to give back.”

Of course, the holidays, joyous as they can be, can also be harsh without such assistance, Terry reminded.

“It can definitely be a difficult time for our friends without homes,” she said.

But then, she added, what a great time for the community to go above and beyond. For example, at Thanksgiving, several goodhearted citizens combined to provide hot meals to HFOL clients, and a local church provided Thanksgiving to-go meals for clients at the Front Porch Friends Breakfast.

For Christmas, each of their clients in need are “adopted” by giving people in the community. The gifts are wrapped and delivered. In past years gifts have included items such as new coats, work boots, toys for kids, books and even a new wheelchair.

“I’ve never known a ministry or cause whose vision is better defined by its name than Hearts Full of Love,” said Aubrey Robertson, pastor of Today Church in Weatherford. “Tony Froid’s mission and heart is simply to connect, help and care for those Jesus said were most important — the least of these.”

And yes, Toni is still very much involved with her father’s organization. She helps in the food pantry.

“We are blown away daily as we witness God use the unqualified, the broken, the last ones you would think He would use — a 12-year-old child — to carry out His perfect plan,” Froid said.

To volunteer, request assistance or for more information, go to heartsfulloflove.org/ministries.