It鈥檚 an early Saturday morning in Garland, Texas. At the First Presbyterian Church, members of the congregation and community are coming together for what has become a weekly tradition for more than 10 years.
鈥淚 may not be able to get you clothes. I might not be able to get you a pair of shoes,鈥� Annette Guerra-Renaud said, 鈥渂ut I can get you food on Saturday from 8 to 10 and a safe place to stay for a couple of hours.鈥�
Guerra-Renaud is a ruling elder at First Presbyterian in Garland. Twelve years ago, she and a few other members of the congregation set out to give back and bring people together. After brainstorming a couple ideas, they finally settled on a community breakfast.
鈥淭here was like five or six families. We all decided, let鈥檚 share a meal with people,鈥� Guerra-Renaud said. 鈥淲e had a Saturday breakfast. We had seven people walk into the fellowship center at our church and we told everybody, come back next Saturday, we'll be here again.鈥�
Fast forward 12 years later, the community breakfasts have fed more than 75,000 people and has become a staple, not only for the church, but also for those who attend the breakfast every weekend.
鈥淭hey welcome anyone that comes,鈥� Yvonne, who preferred to go by her first name, said. 鈥淓ven if you don鈥檛 go to this church, you see that they have many kinds of people that come here. 鈥�
Yvonne is one of many regulars who attends the community breakfast. After attending for the first time in 2022, she discovered that while it was the free food that brought her there, the warmth and care from others is what kept her coming back.
鈥淚t's definitely a nice way to meet new people and make friends,鈥� Yvonne said. 鈥淵ou know, I didn't know any of these people when I started coming here, and now I know a lot of people and we became close.鈥�
Not only do the community breakfasts serve as a place for people to eat and find fellowship, they also serve as a way to give back for the people who organize them.
鈥淚 needed an outlet to give,鈥� Kimberly Whalen said. "The people are here because they don't have food at home. So that鈥檚 why I give whatever I can.鈥�
Whalen, lives across the street from First Presbyterian Church and after taking care of her father for years and then losing him to COVID-19, she found herself searching for a way to give.
鈥淪o, after my father passed away, I needed an outlet,鈥� Whalen said. 鈥淎nd I thought, what can I do? I love to make muffins. And so, I started making 15 a week, and it took off so now I make about 80 muffins a week.鈥�
Whalen become known as the "Muffin Lady" at the breakfast. She said even though it can be hard work at times, she enjoys the love and gratitude she gets from those who attend the breakfast, wherever she goes.
鈥淭here was one lady a year and a half ago, she recognized me at the grocery store,鈥� Whalen said. 鈥淎nd she hugged me and started saying, 鈥楾hank you.鈥� I love being the Muffin Lady.鈥�
The support from the church and the community has helped make the breakfast a success over the years, whether through donations or volunteering, the time and efforts are greatly appreciated.
鈥淲e open the doors at 8 every morning and they pour in,鈥� Damon Renaud said. 鈥淭hey're standing outside waiting.鈥�
Renaud, breakfast coordinator and Guerra-Renaud鈥檚 husband, has enjoyed seeing the number of families who stop by over the years.
鈥淲e have families come in and they'll be a grandma and a mom, and three kids,鈥� Renaud said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes it for me. It's just wonderful.鈥�
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