After more than 25 years of lending a helping hand to residents of Washita County under the guidance of the Newman family, Judah Food Bank and Thee Thrift Store will have a new beginning with new owners- as well as a new name. The Storehouse will be open Tuesday through Friday from 9-4, and Saturday from 10-2. Food will be distributed on Tuesday mornings as before. The Storehouse will accept credit/ debit cards.
Jim and Elizabeth Newman founded Judah Food Bank in 2001. They originally started in their storefront church, and after outgrowing two buildings they purchased the Puckett’s Grocery Store building. Unloading food trucks, sorting food, and managing the store donations requires a lot of labor, and when they became physically unable to manage those tasks their youngest son, Alan Newman, took over and continued to operate with the same loving heart as his parents. Alan continued to do so even after his mother, Elizabeth’s, passing three years ago.
Jim and Elizabeth’s children say that the Judah Food Bank brought their parents an enormous amount of joy. They loved helping families in need and felt it was a direct calling from God. Elizabeth especially spoke of the blessing it was to always have enough funds through the thrift store to buy enough food and then some to make sure families were properly fed. Her daughter, Sheri Parsons, remembers her mother saying that God called her to be a conduit through which money flowed to bless others. If there was extra money, Elizabeth bought more food. She was always a good steward of God’s financial blessings.
In a statement from the family- Jim Newman, Candy Rogers, Alan Newman, Sheri Parsons, James Newman, and Steve Newman- gratitude was expressed. “We are happy to announce the passing of ‘the torch’, so to speak, to new owners. We know our community will continue to support them just as they have supported our family all these years. We would like to give a special ‘Thank you’ to all our volunteers who have made this food bank and thrift store successful. Without them, this would never have been possible. They worked tirelessly out of the goodness of their hearts and there will never be enough words to say what a blessing they all are. We would also like to thank every person and business who has generously donated. We know God will bless you for all you have given.”
Fittingly, Elizabeth Newman loved to cook and bake, and she loved feeding people. At the table, her prayers always ended with “May we always have plenty to eat and plenty to give.” Her prayer was always answered.