NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – What started as a food box ministry in a small Sunday school room of Graves Memorial Baptist Church in North Little Rock several years ago is now a thriving ministry for the Lord.
For years, the church served the community through a food box ministry. At its peak, Senior Pastor Travis Matthews said they were probably serving 30 families a month.
Amid COVID, Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church closed its doors. Wanting the building to continue to be used for ministry, members gifted the building to Graves Memorial.
Graves Memorial renovated the building and opened The Grove, a shoppable food pantry and thrift store, in May 2021, broadening their reach to more than 100 people a month. In addition to the affordable items of the thrift store and a shoppable pantry, The Grove offered practical life classes, such as cooking, gardening and more.
Then in August 2022, in the middle of the night, the building burned to the ground. It was a complete and total loss.
Following the fire, the church was able to temporarily move the ministry into the old Oak Grove Church of Christ building, which they purchased after the church unfortunately had to close its doors, as they rebuilt.
“It took us over a year, and we were finally able to reopen it this last weekend,” Matthews said. “We’re excited.”
Formerly about 1,500-square-feet, The Grove now spans 7,500-square-feet.
“It enables us to serve more people and serve better. We can offer more food selections. We have more freezer and refrigerator space. We can do fresh produce and healthy vegetables,” he said.
Additionally, Matthews said they have a few local vendors, such as Kinnard Homestead, who sell their wares at The Grove as well as the outdoor farmers’ market.
“We have a little section where we sell their stuff and that helps us to build bridges and build relationships with folks in the community. We get to know people,” he said.
Though their No. 1 goal is to help people in need, Matthews said they’re also always trying to build relationships in the community.
“We’re getting to know people every day, every week. It’s really cool to see how God opens doors just through something basic,” he said. “It’s all about connecting with people, finding commonality and starting conversations, and ultimately, hoping and praying those conversations lead to Jesus.”
Additionally, Matthews said they plan to again offer life skill classes at The Grove throughout the year. Along with that, The Grove is kickstarting some new programming, such as offering GED certifications, job training and ESL classes.
“We’re trying to get people out of poverty through education. We’re helping people, inspiring people, getting people to believe they can do better, and they can get out of that place,” he said. “Our goal is to get them off the pantry and into work to where they go from needing the pantry to supporting the pantry.”
The ministry serves the Oak Grove community of North Little Rock, as well as Mayflower and Maumelle. All money made through the thrift store goes toward maintaining the ministry.
The Grove, which had its ribbon cutting on April 23, is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Donations are accepted during regular hours of operation.
Matthews said he hopes their story will encourage others.
“God really can do more than we could ever dream or imagine. We’re living proof of that. We’re a very small church. We’re just normal working-class, blue-collar people and if God can do it here God can do it anywhere.”
For more information on The Grove, click here.