By Brynna Williamson
If there’s anyone who loves to tell the story of what God has done for them, it’s Bill and Kris Ware. Running the Rose Hill Community Food Pantry (what the Wares call “God’s pantry”) in our very own Wood County, Texas takes a ton of work. But for them, it really is nearly as simple as what Kris says, “If you’re hungry, we give you food.”
The Beginning
It all started in 2018, at Rose Hill Baptist Church in Mineola, Texas. At that time, the food pantry was a “six by eight closet” in the church, with “two or three shelves that we put our stuff on,” said Kris. But when the food pantry outgrew that space within a month, Kris said, “We graduated from the broom closet into a classroom, and then another classroom, and finally into the church’s old “Youth Center,” a big gymnasium.
Eventually, however, Bill and Kris started looking for a place of their own, where the Rose Hill Community Food Pantry could grow and expand.
So it started with giving away food with every resource the Wares had, even if that meant something as humble as using laundry baskets to tote the “scant pickings” and feeding 65 families out of their “six by eight closet.” That’s what they had, so that’s what they used—to the fullest measure they possibly could.
The Provisions
Rose Hill Community Food Pantry is still giving away food with every resource they have. Today, however, it looks a bit different. The pantry is used to feed 550 families every month, which Kris says is 1,784 people so far in 2025. Instead of a repurposed broom closet, the Rose Hill building is a 2,500 square foot facility, which God has provided the Wares to be able to outfit with air conditioning, refrigeration units, and more.
“God’s been so good to this pantry,” said Kris simply. “I mean, it’s just unreal the stuff that He does.”
It is unreal. Sometimes, hearing about what God has been up to in this Wood County food pantry is like reading a miracle right out of the Bible, or like hearing about George Müller praying for some food for his orphans (spoiler alert: when they needed it, God always gave it. It’s the same with the pantry).
While there have been tons of “God moments” throughout the years that the pantry has been open, several really stand out to the Wares.
First of all, it is necessary to note that, while the couple won’t mention it unless it’s to glorify what God has done with the pantry, they’ve sunk everything into this adventure. They sold their farm, cashed in all their retirement, and put a lien on their previously paid-for house.
They even took out a loan on a paid-up life insurance policy. Why? All to purchase a place to hold the food, air conditioning to keep volunteers from having to suffer, and food to give away to the hungry.
But to the Wares, it’s not a huge deal. It’s just part of doing what they are called to do. “To get what we wanted—and what we felt that God said was our mission—we didn’t owe anybody any money. So we just took what we had, and we put everything together,” said Kris.
But when the Wares found out that, even after all of their efforts, it would cost $14,000 over their budget to put in a parking lot, and then on top of that another $5,000 to install a bathroom in the building, they were at a dead end financially. They were completely out of funds—even personal ones.
Once Kris and Bill thought they were going to have to permanently close the doors of the pantry. But as Kris noted, “God said, ‘I don’t think so! Did I tell you to shut it down?’ (And) I said, ‘No, Sir!” And so, they didn’t. What did happen, however, was the following.
“When we moved out here, (it) was July,” said Kris. “No air conditioner. We’re dying. We’ve got all the doors up. 25 fans blowing,” she laughed. “We had a cooler that was donated, and it went out. And the guy that came out to repair it said, ‘Ma’am, y’all don’t have air conditioning in here.’ I said, ‘Well! You noticed?’”
Kris had already called several companies about installing air conditioning. On top of all the other sudden expenses of starting up the food pantry, air conditioning would cost another $40,000, so it seemed unattainable. That is, until a different repairman came out another day—not even telling the Wares who he was—and talked to Kris again.
“He said the same thing when he walked in,” said Kris. “He said, ‘Uh, ma’am, anybody ever told you that you don’t have air conditioning in here? Let me see what I can do.’”
Shortly after, the air conditioning company called Kris. For some reason, a local company had purchased two five-ton air conditioners—exactly the size that the food pantry needed–and then the units didn’t fit the needed space. Instead of selling them elsewhere, the air conditioning company offered them to Kris, for the food pantry.
“I said, ‘Mike, we don’t have any money!’” “He said, ‘(My boss) didn’t say a word about money.’” “So anyway, they came out and installed two five-ton units,” said Kris. Completely, 100% free. Exactly what they needed, exactly when they needed it.
Other stories of what God has done in this little Wood County food pantry are equally as jaw-dropping. From perusing these stories, it’s easy to see that God has put the Wares just where He wants them to be, and that He is blessing their obedience to serve the people of Wood County, Texas. Stories like that of a man who stopped for directions and ended up leaving $1,500 as a cash donation. Stories like the time that the pantry received an electric pallet jack when they needed it. Like when someone donated “a whole van full” of adult sanitary products that the pantry was able to donate to a missionary who took some of them to nursing homes in Mexico.
“Whenever a bill comes in, someone always seems to step in at just the right time to cover the expense, which the Wares attribute to divine intervention,” reads their website. They’re right. God has completely provided for the food pantry, covering all of the costs needed to feed the hungry. “Everything out there is paid for,” said Kris. “There’s not one dime owed on that building or anything in it.”
And the pantry continues growing today. Kris mentions that the next big step in “God’s pantry” is to bring in a walk-in cold room, since they no longer have space to store all of the refrigerated food. Anyone interested in donating time, resources, etc. is encouraged to visit the pantry website, or to call Kris at 903-312-3256.
The Continuance
There is no nonsense about Kris Ware, but it comes across differently for her than it might for anybody else. She is generous, and you will be fed and happy, and nobody had better give her any flack for it. end of argument. This is not because Kris is mean—far from it—but because she’s gonna serve God, and she’s tough about it.
“They all know I’m crazy,” said Kris matter-of-factly. “(But) there’s a madness to my means.” It might seem like “madness” to Kris, but to most people, it’s all “means.” From its beginning to its tomorrows, the pantry’s working isn’t complicated. “If you’re hungry, we give you food,” says Kris—and she means it, too. While many pantries are only open to locals, at Rose Hill, anyone from all of Wood County is invited to come and get something nice to eat. In fact, Kris says they’re now open to anyone from Grand Saline as well. They’re open the first, second, and third Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. until noon, and they also open their doors from 10:00 a.m. to noon on the second Tuesday of the month. For more information on their specific schedules and offerings on those days, visit their website!
So, if you ever think you’re too old to start something new—even a big “something new”—think again. Bill and Kris Ware know better. They might both be 80+ and have their health problems here and there, but they’re working harder, more gladly, and more physically than many of us who are younger do.
“Let me tell you something—we are not by ourselves. God. Is. With. Us. Every step of the way,” said Kris. “Bill and I always said, ‘We don’t have the finances, but God will provide: and oh, He has.”
Visit the pantry’s website or Facebook page to find out when they’re open, to donate, or to get more information. The pantry is funded entirely by donations, local foundations, grants, proceeds from their occasional garage sales, etc.