from the United Methodist Insight
by Press Release
April 8, 2020
Volunteers practice CDC health guidelines with masks, gloves and social distancing as they prepare meals for the neighborhood feeding program at Hamilton Park UMC in Dallas, TX. The church started its feeding program March 23, 2020, to aid its neighbors who needed food during the coronavirus pandemic. 
Community leader Thomas Jefferson (at right) stops by Hamilton Park UMC to thank the church for its feeding program. A volunteer next to him shows how the program is following CDC guidelines wearing masks and gloves. 
Hamilton Park UMC’s poster announces its feeding program.
Special to United Methodist Insight
An historic African American United Methodist congregation in Dallas, Texas, has taken on the challenge of feeding its neighborhood amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a report from the church, Hamilton Park UMC sprang into action on March 23, 2020 and began feeding the public as the COVID-19 virus shutting down businesses and thousands were suddenly jobless across North Texas. The church has fed nearly 2,000 in the two weeks of operation.
“The idea of so many people suddenly without income pierced our hearts. We knew there would be additional layers of hunger in our community,” said senior pastor Dr. Sheron C. Patterson.
The Park, as it is known, is located in a historic, yet economically fragile area, filled with African American senior citizens and a growing Latino population. Nestled at the crossing of highways Interstate 635 and U.S. 75, at least two encampments of unsheltered persons are also in the community.
The church launched the Hamilton Park UMC Feeding Program March 23 and began serving hot meals from 2:00 – 4:00 p. m. Monday through Friday in the lobby of its sanctuary.
The Feeding Program uses the “Grab and Go” format, which means, those who come for food enter the church’s front door, receive a covered foam container of food and quickly exit the building to limit the time of interaction. CDC guidelines are followed. Volunteers wear face masks and gloves and operate their various stations with social distancing. Volunteers are limited to five to comply with restrictions on the numbers of people assembling.
True to Methodist values, there has been no shortage of volunteers for this potentially hazardous front-line ministry. The first week The Park members served meals. Kathy Turner, a longtime member, said, “I couldn’t be anywhere else during this crisis. It is such a blessing to feed our neighbors.”
During the second week, members of Highland Park UMC, another Dallas congregation, served meals.
A strong point of the Feeding Program is that there are no restrictions on who can receive food. Those who come include senior citizens, teenagers, children with parents, unsheltered persons, African American, White and Latino.
Leadership of The Hamilton Park community responded with gratitude quickly. Thomas Jefferson, who is president of the Hamilton Park Civic League, came by during the first week and said, “I am impressed and I appreciate the time and effort you and others dedicated to the community. I would like to compliment you on a job well done.”
Jefferson assumed the feeding was a one-week event. “No sir, we hope to keep feeding for a while,” said Dr. Patterson.
For more details, contact Art Mosley, Church Administrator, at artmosley@theparkumc.org.