Sharing the Harvest, a longtime food pantry serving the Highland Lakes community, will soon relocate after more than three decades on the campus of First Baptist Church of Kingsland.
The church notified the pantry’s board president this week that the nonprofit must vacate the property by Dec. 1. (Find related story on Page 1).
Sharing the Harvest Director Cynthia Green said she wanted the public to hear the news directly before rumors spread.
“Sharing the Harvest is not going away,” Green emphasized. “We are in good standing with our nonprofit status and we will not relinquish our 501c3 to First Baptist Kingsland or any other organization. We will be relocating, and those options are already being explored.
I am confident that He did not lead us to this to not lead us through it.”
Community Care
Sharing the Harvest began in 1994 when Helen Carpenter, then asked to serve on a benevolence committee at First Baptist, quickly realized the need was far greater than one person could meet. With compassion and determination, she recruited volunteers and built a ministry that went beyond food and clothing. By 1997, the outreach included a small community clinic staffed by a nurse, counseling services, and monthly food distribution to 18 families.
Over time, the pantry expanded. In 2016, it became a stand-alone nonprofit, paving the way for
broader partnerships with the Central Texas Food Bank and local grocer H-E-B. Those alliances allowed Sharing the Harvest to serve hundreds of families each month, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pantry became a vital safety net for food security in Kingsland and beyond.
Today’s Needs
Now operating entirely with volunteers, Sharing the Harvest serves an average of 120 families each week – nearly 200 households representing more than 700 people. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the pantry served 2,543 households and 9,347 individuals.
But the need has grown as resources have tightened. Federal funding cuts reduced the Central Texas Food Bank’s offerings, and H-E-B’s donations have dropped as supply chains strain. That has forced Sharing the Harvest to purchase more food locally, spending over $84,000 at H-E-B last year alone. Eggs, once donated, now cost the pantry about $1,100 a week. Other staples such as peanut butter, cereal, and canned goods remain difficult to secure.
“Despite the challenges, our volunteers show up in the heat or the cold because without them, it would add one more burden to those we serve,” Green said. “The only smiles or positive conversations some of our recipients have each week come when they visit Sharing the Harvest.”
A Future Beyond
While acknowledging the difficulty of leaving its longtime home, Green stressed that the pantry’s mission continues. “Change is hard, and everyone will not agree. But Sharing the Harvest is not going away,” she said.
For updates, the public can follow the Kingsland Sharing the Harvest Facebook page or visit their website. Volunteers, donors, and community members can also contact Green directly at 512-7557126 to learn how to help.
“As always,” she said, “I am humbled by the compassion to serve and the unity of this incredible community that we are blessed to live in.”
