‘This is my home.’ Resilient Haltom City church serves community with Christmas meal
The church gymnasium hummed with movement. As plates of turkey, ham and mashed potatoes were dished out, Santa Claus was in place in a neighboring building.
Volunteers stood by near round tables and on a serving line.
For two hours at midday Wednesday, people down on their luck stopped for a meal at the Christian Center of Fort Worth. Others did not want to dine alone on Christmas.
The church sits on a stretch of Northeast 28th Street in Haltom City specked with auto mechanic shops, used car dealers and gas stations .
It was a mild Christmas afternoon, a factor that can increase attendance. But Christmas 2019 also unfolded in a strong economy, which often means fewer people need a free meal. Pastor Steve Vanzant said he expected between 800 and 1,200 people.
The church receives donations from the Tarrant Area Food Bank and grocery stores.
Earlier in the week, Mary Figureoa, 64, saw a sign outside the church advertising the meal and decided it would be where she would spend the afternoon. She left with a plate of leftovers wrapped in aluminum foil.
“We didn’t have nobody coming to see us,” Figureoa said. “We’re low on money.”
Volunteers Vella Young, 39, and Christina Trevino, 40, stood next to each other, as they often do on Christmas at the Christian Center, offering ham and turkey.
Later, they sat down at a table to eat and consider the value of the meal to the community the church serves.
Young has been at the Christian Center on Christmas for 25 years.
“This is my home,” she said.
The meal on Wednesday was served about two years after parts of a church building where it stores food and clothing were flooded when frozen water pipes burst.
The Christian Center was left with a $16,000 bill when its insurance company declined to cover the damage.
After eating Wednesday, many people moved to other buildings on the church’s grounds to receive bags of groceries. Children lined up to take a photograph with Santa Claus and receive a gift.
