Rogers, Ark. — December 4, 2025— Grace Chapel United Methodist Church has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas in support of its Blessings to Go drive-thru food pantry, a vital ministry serving hundreds of Northwest Arkansas families each month.
Launched in June of this year, Blessings to Go provides free, ready-to-eat food and grocery staples to anyone in need, no questions asked. The ministry has quickly become one of the cornerstones of Grace Chapel’s outreach, offering not only food but also dignity, community, and hope to those facing food insecurity.
“This grant from the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas makes an incredible difference,” said Rev. Rachel Krest, pastor of Grace Chapel UMC. “It allows us to continue meeting people’s needs—with compassion, hospitality, and the love of Christ in action.”
The Blessings to Go ministry was envisioned by Grace Chapel member Pat Barlett, whose heart for serving others helped transform an idea into a thriving, community-driven outreach.
“Blessings To Go isn’t your typical food pantry. Our volunteers meet people right where they are—calling them by name, listening to their stories, and sharing in both their concerns and their joys,” Barlett said. “We’re not just here to feed; we’re here to love, just as Christ calls us to do. That’s why this support means more than words can express. Knowing we can continue serving every Thursday night is a blessing beyond measure. From all of us at Blessings to Go—and from every family who comes through—we send our thanks to the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas and ask God’s blessing upon them.”
Each week, cars line up as volunteers greet guests with warm smiles, conversation, and prayer. The impact of those encounters reaches far beyond nutritional needs being met.
Linda, who picks up food boxes for two elderly friends, shared, “I’m so thankful for this pantry. I have a full-time job, so it makes it hard getting to a daytime pantry. I love how you all treat people coming here—the laughter and the love. Oh, and the prayer is another favorite of mine.”
Another guest, a working parent with a spouse and two children, said, “We both work and between rent going up, and every day the cost of groceries going up, we can’t keep up! This box helps us out so much.”
One mother tearfully expressed, “This pantry means so much to a single mother trying to take care of her kids while trying to keep everything else going.”
And Clint, a repeat guest, summed up the heart of the ministry this way: “I love that you all talk to us! Sometimes we just need someone to say hi and not judge us. You all do that. You call me by name; we laugh. It’s not doom and gloom. You not only give us food—you make us feel good.”
The $20,000 grant from the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas will help sustain and strengthen Blessings to Go’s ongoing operations, ensuring the ministry can continue offering food and encouragement to those in need throughout 2025 and beyond.
“Blessings to Go is a beautiful example of what a congregation can accomplish when they use the power of relationship and community to meet the immediate needs of their neighbors,” said the Rev. Mackey Yokem, director of leadership ministries for the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. “The Foundation is grateful to be able to support Grace Chapel in this difference-making work.”
Grace Chapel, located at 1801 South Dixieland Road in Rogers, offers a variety of community ministries along with Blessings to Go, including a daytime food pantry, a Sunday community meal, and seasonal outreach programs for local families.
For more information about Blessings to Go or to learn how to volunteer, visit GraceChapelUMC.life or call 479-636-7045.
About Grace Chapel United Methodist Church
At Grace Chapel, our starting point is always Jesus. Through Christ, we’re drawn into real relationships—with God, with one another, and with the community we’re called to serve. We gather each week for worship that is both joyful and grounded in scripture, offering space for people to encounter God’s presence and grow in faith. Through discipleship opportunities, we learn and live out what it means to follow Jesus. And through outreach ministries we extend Christ’s love in tangible ways to our neighbors. In all we do, we seek to be Christ-Centered, Connected in Love, and Committed to Community.
About the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas
With a mission to establish and manage charitable funds to strengthen and expand Methodist ministries across Arkansas, the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas manages over $220 million in endowment funds and other charitable assets that benefit local churches and other Methodist ministries. Founded in 1963, the Foundation has grown into one of the largest Methodist foundations in the country, managing more than 800 funds that support Methodist ministries. To learn more, visit methodistfoundationAR.org.
