Ed and Brenda Sattesahn have been the directors of the Harvest House Ministry of Pampa for nearly four years, taking it over during the chaos of the Covid pandemic.
Ed had been working as a substitute teacher prior to that, but with the strict rules and regulations that had been imposed because of the pandemic, Ed felt that as a teacher, educating and helping his students had become much harder to do.
“I told my wife I’m not teaching, I’m spending time cleaning because of the stipulations they had during that particular year when they came back,” he said.
Shortly before school started up again after Christmas break, Ed received a phone call from someone asking if he would be interested in becoming the new director of the Harvest House, a request he eagerly accepted.
But Ed found himself walking into a challenge when grocery store shelves were quickly wiping out and distributors were having trouble supplying to local food banks that so many citizens relied upon, including the Harvest House.
While there have been economic hardships throughout the years, the Covid pandemic really took its toll on charit5ble, non-profit establishments such as the Harvest House, where the items that were available began to dwindle down and the number of folks in need grew.
The High Plains Food Bank in Amarillo is the main supplier of the food that the Harvest House distributes, but just like any time Texas faces a crisis, the community comes together and rushes to the aid of those in need.
Many residents came together to hold food drives for the Harvest House, bringing in cases of canned goods and other supplies to help their fellow citizens.
History and Operation of the Harvest House
The Harvest House Ministry of Pampa has been in operation since 1998, operating as a food pantry to fulfill the nourishment needs of the citizens of Gray County.
The pantry opens up once a week where an individual can come in, register as a client, make up a grocery list of available items and go home knowing they will have meals to get them through the week and be able to come back the following week.
The grocery list contains a variety of food options to choose from that cover all of the essential groups from meat, vegetables, and fruits just to name a few.
During Thanksgiving and Christmas, clients are given a turkey and ham as well as all of the holiday trimmings that come with the traditional meal.
Requirements to register for groceries at the Harvest House is a photo ID, social security and a bill that has their current address on it. The potential client is required to list everyone in their household and if they have any children under the age of 18, they must provide their birth certificate and social security card as well.
The client will then receive a card that is valid for the entire year and are given a grocery list with various items to choose from including: four different types of canned vegetables, fruits and their choice of meat, ranging from ground beef, chicken and pork.
Once the list is completed, volunteers working in the pantry fill sacks according to the list.
Each client typically walk out with at least 22 pounds worth of food to last them nearly a week.
While clients are waiting for the grocery orders to be filled, they have the opportunity to sit in on a sermon that a local pastor, sometimes even Ed himself, delivers each week.
“We try to encourage them with the Word of God. They do not have to sit in there. If they want to go sit in their car, we can’t refuse that,” he said.
“It’s a neat ministry and we’re a little different. We want to encourage the people and pray with them. People have said, this is our church home.”
For more information about the Harvest House and the services they offer or to learn how to donate or become a volunteer, call 806-665-4042. They are located at 736 S. Cuyler and they are open every Thursday except for main holidays from 10-10:30 AM.
